By Dennis Agbo

The Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu, FUAHSE, has promised that it will ensure that adequate and qualified healthcare practitioners are trained in the university for the consumption of Nigeria and countries beyond.

The Vice Chancellor of FUAHSE, Prof John Emaimo made the pledge at its first matriculation ceremony in the university campus Trans-Ekulu Enugu, during the weekend.

Prof Emaimo said that the management, staff and students of the University are ready to meet the aspiration of President Bola Tinubu in establishing the university, which he said was to increase output in healthcare manpower development in Nigeria.

President Tinubu had on March 14 2024 establishment the university stating that he wanted an expansion and increase in the manpower output in the healthcare delivery system with 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide within 16 months and to double the number of primary health facilities in local communities across Nigeria from 8,800 to over 17,000.

Addressing the convocation arena, the Vice Chancellor disclosed that the University did not waste time to secure the approval of 18 allied healthcare degree programmes from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and took off intensive academic trainings immediately.

“The university had since embarked on the expansion of its infrastructure by building over 1,000 capacity auditorium. A new block of Library and ICT has since been completed and packed into; while the gigantic administrative block is fast coming to completion, same as class rooms’ block. Some new classroom blocks were already completed.

“We are set to run a university where there is zero tolerance for indolence, cultism, truancy or rascality on the part of both the staff and students. We are putting up facilities to make learning easy, create a convivial atmosphere for mentorship while instilling discipline in all members of the academic community.

“From the word go, we made it clear that we are into manpower development and that we have the mandate to train graduates who will graduate and fit seamlessly into the national healthcare team, become employers of labour and contribute significantly to national development. Our focus is on practical education that gives our students skills in their chosen fields while they also acquire additional entrepreneurial skills as well.

“What this means is that FUAHSE will graduate students with double certification and honour; Bachelor’s Degree in their Allied Health Field and a professional Diploma in a chosen entrepreneurial venture, coupled with self-dignity, integrity and good moral standing,” Emaimo said.