Igala Cultural and Development Association Urges Gov Ododo to Expedite Completion of PAAU Teaching Hospital

The Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) has called on Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to prioritize the completion of the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) teaching hospital in Anyigba.

The association emphasized that a fully operational teaching hospital is essential for the re-accreditation of the university’s College of Medicine, which has been suspended since 2016 due to lack of infrastructure.

Surgeon Commodore Dr. Ahmed Abdullahi, President of ICDA, stressed the importance of a teaching hospital for the training of medical students and the overall improvement of healthcare services in Kogi State. He noted that the absence of this critical facility led to the halting of the MBBS program just as students were set to begin clinical training. Dr. Abdullahi praised the university’s strong foundation, citing the exceptional performance of students transferred to other institutions after the suspension.

The ICDA urged the government to act swiftly in completing the hospital, not only to restore the medical college but also to meet the growing healthcare needs of the state. They further called for the teaching hospital to be equipped to international standards, ensuring that PAAU can meet accreditation requirements and provide top-tier medical training.

The association also highlighted the successful establishment of medical colleges in newer institutions like the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara, and appealed to Governor Ododo to replicate the same success at PAAU. A modern, fully accredited teaching hospital, they argued, would enhance the university’s academic prestige and improve healthcare outcomes for the region.