Pioneer IBBUL MBBS Students Bid Farewell Ahead of Clinical Training at ABU Zaria

The pioneer set of 41 MBBS 300-level students who will relocate to Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, to continue their medical education have bid farewell to Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai. 

Addressing the students at  Abdulkadir Kure Senate Building, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, described the relocation as a strategic intervention designed to ensure that their academic progress remains uninterrupted while the University completes the establishment of its teaching hospital. 

He explained that the achievement was the product of collective efforts involving the Visitor to the University and Governor of Niger State, Farmer Governor Umar Mohammed Bago, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and several other stakeholders. 

"The Vice-Chancellor was only an errand boy," he remarked, insisting that the credit belonged to everyone who worked tirelessly to make the arrangement a reality. 

Professor Hadi particularly commended the Visitor for his unwavering support and disclosed that construction of the University's temporary teaching hospital is progressing rapidly, with a target of commencing operations by September 2026 to ensure that future medical students complete their clinical training within IBB University.

He noted that after extensive consultations, the Management of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria graciously agreed to admit the 41 pioneer students into its College of Medical Sciences, where they will undertake intensive tutorials before sitting for their professional examinations in September. 

He praised the leadership of ABU, particularly the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Dahiru, and other officials whose cooperation made the transition possible. 

According to him, feedback from lecturers who have taught the students has consistently described them as one of the best classes, a reputation he challenged them to uphold. "You have zero margin for failure. Nobody should fail. You must justify the sacrifices made by your parents, the Governor, the Minister of Education and everyone who worked tirelessly to make this opportunity possible. We expect nothing less than excellence from all 41 of you," he declared, urging them to strive for distinctions rather than settling for average grades.

The Vice-Chancellor further encouraged the students to remain focused, disciplined and committed to excellence, stressing that they now carry the image and reputation of IBB University wherever they go. He reminded them that they had earned the confidence of their lecturers through outstanding academic performance and good conduct and should therefore sustain that standard at ABU. 

Professor Hadi urged them to reward the enormous sacrifices made by the University, government, their parents and other partners with exceptional results, adding that they should never forget the institution that nurtured them. 

"You are ambassadors of IBB University. Wherever you go, let your conduct, character and performance reflect the excellence for which this university stands," he said. 

He also appealed to the students to return after graduation to contribute to the growth of the College of Medical and Health Sciences as lecturers, researchers and medical specialists, expressing optimism that the college would one day be managed by its own alumni.

Speaking on welfare arrangements, Professor Hadi assured the students that the University had put in place comprehensive logistics to guarantee a conducive learning environment throughout their stay in Zaria, disclosing that the students would be accommodated in a secure international-standard facility previously reserved for foreign students, complete with uninterrupted electricity and water supply, while the University would provide dedicated transportation to and fro tutorial venues and bear the costs of accommodation, transportation and tutorial sessions. 

According to him, parents would only be responsible for providing feeding allowances, as cooking would not be permitted in the accommodation because of international safety regulations. "Your accommodation is secured, your transportation is secured and your tutorials are secured. Therefore, you have no excuse not to succeed. Reward our efforts with excellent results," he told the students.

Professor Hadi also disclosed that the University had formally written to parents to seek their consent for the relocation, emphasizing that any parent with reservations should notify the Institution promptly. He reaffirmed the University's commitment to completing the teaching hospital project and strengthening its medical programme so that subsequent cohorts would undertake their clinical training within IBB University. 

While expressing confidence that the students would excel during their stay at ABU, the Vice-Chancellor challenged those coming behind to emulate the academic excellence of the pioneer class, reminding them that the medical profession demands competence, discipline and dedication because it deals directly with human lives. 

Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, disclosed that IBB University is at the final stage of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Al-Mansurah University, Egypt, as part of efforts to internationalise the College of Health Sciences and broaden students' academic exposure. He revealed that the university management and the Provost would soon meet in Abuja to conclude discussions on the partnership, which is expected to facilitate staff and student exchange programmes, research collaboration, and the sharing of academic expertise. 

According to him, discussions are currently focused on the funding responsibilities of both institutions to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative. He assured the 200 level students who would remain at IBB University that they had not been left behind, promising that the Management would continue to pursue strategic partnerships and collaborations that would position the College of Health Sciences among the best nationally and internationally. 

The Vice- Chancellor added that the proposed collaboration came after international partners deliberately chose IBB University for the programme, expressing optimism that the partnership would provide students and staff with valuable global exposure while also welcoming scholars from Egypt to Lapai in the future.

In his opening remarks, the Provost of the College of Medical and Health Sciences, Professor Abubakar Aliyu, Noted that the interactive session was convened to further sensitise the 200 and 300-level MBBS students on the unique academic structure, regulations and expectations governing medical education. According to him, although the College of Medical and Health Sciences operates within the University system, it follows a more rigorous academic calendar and demands a higher level of commitment, discipline and academic excellence from its students. He stressed that regular attendance of lectures, practical sessions and continuous assessments remains critical to students' success, noting that poor performance in continuous assessment often makes it difficult for students to excel in their final examinations. 

Professor Aliyu said the meeting was intended to reinforce the college's continuous orientation efforts and to enable the University Management to further impress upon the students the seriousness required to maintain the high academic standards for which IBB University is known.

Professor Aliyu further explained that the meeting also served to formally brief the pioneer 300-level MBBS students on their relocation to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, for their clinical training following delays in the completion of the University's teaching hospital. He expressed profound appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, for deploying his experience, leadership and strategic engagements to secure admission slots for the students at ABU, thereby ensuring that their academic programme would not be disrupted. The Provost described the pioneer class as one of the college's finest, noting that they had earned commendation from their lecturers for their academic performance and exemplary conduct. He expressed confidence that the students would serve as worthy ambassadors of IBB University in Zaria and stated that the interactive session was also designed to enable them receive the University Management's goodwill and guidance before departure, while providing an opportunity for them to seek clarification on issues relating to the transition.

In their separate remarks, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Salihu Mohammed Niworu, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Professor Mohammed Aliyu Bello, and the University Bursar, Mohammed Alfa Daniyan, commended the exemplary leadership of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, for providing the vision and direction that have transformed the College of Health Sciences and positioned it for greater achievements. They also praised the unwavering commitment of the Provost, Professor Mohammed Aliyu, describing him as a tireless administrator whose dedication, alongside that of members of staff, was instrumental to the success recorded by the College. 

The Principal Officers encouraged the students to cherish and protect the good name of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, and their families by maintaining discipline, integrity, and academic excellence. They reminded them that the medical profession demands diligence, competence, and a strong sense of responsibility, as they would ultimately be entrusted with the preservation of human lives.

The trio further urged the students to remain focused and committed throughout their clinical training at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, stressing that they had no reason to fail because the curriculum is clearly defined and success depends on discipline, hard work, and adherence to the approved course content. 

They advised the students to justify the enormous investment made by the University, the Niger State Government, and their parents by striving for distinction rather than mediocrity, setting ambitious academic goals, and avoiding distractions, negative peer influence, and unhealthy relationships. They encouraged them to devote their time to the classroom, library, and places of worship while serving as worthy ambassadors of IBB University. 

Expressing confidence in their abilities, they challenged the students to distinguish themselves among their peers, uphold the University's reputation as a world-class institution, complete their programme within the stipulated period, and return with outstanding results that would make the University, their families, and the nation proud.

In their separate goodwill messages, lecturers from the College of Health Sciences, including Dr. Aliyu Isah Aliyu of the Department of Human Anatomy, Dr. Ajala Lawal Rafiat of the Department of Medical Biochemistry, the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Suleiman Evuti, and the Students' Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Muhammad Alhaji, congratulated the pioneer 300-level MBBS students on their transfer to Ahmadu Bello University. They described the students as trailblazers whose academic excellence, discipline, and conduct had laid a strong foundation for future medical students of the University. They urged the departing class to remain united, support one another academically and socially, and continue to uphold the values instilled in them at Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University. 

The lecturers emphasized that the success of the pioneer class would inspire the 200-level students and subsequent intakes to strive for greater achievements, noting that six weeks of focused preparation and teamwork would be sufficient for them to excel in their new academic environment. They also assured the students of their continued support and encouraged them to freely seek guidance whenever they encountered academic or personal challenges.

The speakers further reminded the students that beyond academic excellence, they would be ambassadors of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University at Ahmadu Bello University and must therefore uphold the highest standards of discipline and respect for institutional regulations. They stressed that ABU operates under a strict code of conduct where adherence to rules, respect for security personnel, proper use of University facilities, and preservation of the campus environment are taken very seriously. 

While expressing sadness over the departure of one of the University's brightest pioneer medical classes, they acknowledged that the relocation was beyond the control of the University Management and encouraged the students to justify the confidence reposed in them through exemplary conduct and outstanding academic performance. 

Speaking on behalf of the students, the SUG President described the occasion as one filled with mixed emotions—joy for the opportunities awaiting the students and sadness at seeing such an exceptional and disciplined set leave the university. He assured the Management that the students would remain worthy ambassadors of IBB University wherever they found themselves.

Speaking on behalf of the students, the pioneer President of the IBB University Medical Students' Association, Jamilu Minkail, alongside the 300-Level Class Representative, Michael Frank Dabilo, and the Director of Socials, Peace Sunday, expressed profound appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Mohammed Hadi Sulaiman, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Mohammed Aliyu, and members of the academic staff for their unwavering commitment to the students' success. 

They described the approval of their transition to the clinical phase at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, as one of the happiest moments of their academic journey, noting that the University Management had consistently listened to their concerns, addressed their challenges, and ensured that every obstacle standing in their way was removed. They also commended their lecturers for their patience, dedication, and student-centred teaching approach, which enabled them to excel academically, while praying for Allah's continued blessings and rewards upon the university leadership and staff.

The students further pledged to be worthy ambassadors of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University as they commence their clinical training at ABU, assuring the Management that they would uphold the Institution's reputation through excellence and good conduct. Michael Frank Dabilo stated that the decision of the University to facilitate their immediate transfer reflected the confidence the Management had in their abilities, despite the enormous responsibility awaiting them. 

He assured the Vice-Chancellor and the lecturers that the class would not disappoint the University but would strive to make IBB University proud. 

The students also expressed gratitude that, unlike many medical students in other institutions who suffered years of delay due to accreditation challenges, their transition was achieved within a relatively short period, describing the feat as a remarkable demonstration of visionary leadership and commitment to students' welfare.