NWUK Vice-Chancellor Seeks Federal Government Support for Renewed Hope National Centre of Excellence

The Vice-Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano (NWUK), Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero, has sought the support and collaboration of the Federal Government towards the establishment of a Kano Renewed Hope National Centre of Excellence for Women’s, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (KARMRAD) at the University.

Prof. Bayero made the request today during a courtesy visit to the Honourable Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Hon. Dr. Mariya Mahmud Bunkure, in Abuja, where she presented the proposal for the establishment of the Centre and explored areas of collaboration and possible government intervention in the development of the University.

The proposed Centre is conceived as a world-class regional hub for women’s, maternal, newborn and child health (WMNCH), integrating advanced medical education, multidisciplinary biomedical and translational research, healthcare innovation, digital health, clinical simulation, professional capacity development, policy support and community engagement.

According to the proposal, the Centre is designed to respond to the persistent challenges of maternal, newborn and child mortality in Nigeria, particularly the shortage of skilled health professionals, inadequate research infrastructure, limited access to specialist services and the need to strengthen the application of digital health and translational research in healthcare delivery. Kano’s strategic position as a major healthcare and referral hub in the North-West further underscores the need for such an integrated facility.

The proposed Centre will comprise key facilities including an Institute of Women’s, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health; Medical Simulation and Clinical Skills Centre; Biomedical Research and Innovation Complex; Digital Medical Education Centre; Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship Hub; Telemedicine and Community Outreach Centre; Nutrition and Child Development Centre; Central Instrumentation Facility; and Digital Library and Knowledge Resource Centre.

The proposal envisages the Centre as a major platform for strengthening healthcare education and research, developing innovative healthcare technologies, supporting evidence-based health policies and extending quality healthcare services to underserved communities through outreach, telemedicine and digital health.

The Centre is projected to train more than 5,000 healthcare professionals, support over 3,000 students annually, undertake more than 100 community outreach programmes, establish over 30 research collaborations and secure at least 10 competitive research grants.

The estimated investment requirement for the project is Hundreds of Millions, covering civil works and infrastructure, biomedical laboratories and scientific equipment, medical simulation and clinical skills facilities, digital medical education and ICT infrastructure, health innovation and telemedicine, utilities, capacity building and project management.

During the visit, the Vice-Chancellor also used the opportunity to seek the Honourable Minister’s support for other areas of institutional development and to facilitate appropriate Federal Government interventions that could contribute to the growth and advancement of Northwest University, Kano.

Responding, Hon. Dr. Mariya Mahmud Bunkure expressed her willingness to support the University’s development initiatives and assured the Vice-Chancellor of her commitment to facilitating appropriate assistance and collaboration within the scope of her office.

The Vice-Chancellor expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister for receiving the University’s delegation and for her commitment to supporting initiatives aimed at strengthening education, research and healthcare development.

The proposed Centre, according to the University, is expected to position Northwest University, Kano as a regional centre of excellence in medical education, biomedical research and health innovation, while contributing to improved maternal, newborn and child health outcomes across Kano State, Northern Nigeria and the country at large.