Niger State signs bond with 60 indigenous medical students

The Niger State government has signed a bond with 60 indigenous medical students to engage them as part of the state’s workforce in a bid to increase manpower in its healthcare sector

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago was represented by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba at the signing of the bond in Minna, the state capital.

Bago disclosed that some of the medical students who are in their clinical years have expressed willingness to accept the offer to serve in the state at the end of their studies.

The 60 medical students consist of 43 males and 17 females from various universities in and outside the country, specifically from the Islamic University in Uganda, East Africa.

He also revealed that arrangements with some universities in India are ongoing to train medical, engineering and ICT students from Niger State.

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According to him: “The conversion of the former Shiroro Hotel, Minna, to a teaching hospital affiliated with the state-owned Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, IBBU, Lapai, has reached an advanced stage. This will also provide opportunities for postgraduate training.”

In his remarks, the Niger State Head of Service, Alhaji Salisu Abubakar, noted the importance of investing in human capital development as well as periodically monitoring and evaluating progress to ensure sustainability.

He affirmed that the administration of Governor Bago will “continue to make policies that would guide against brain drain in the state’s health sector and other professional cadres.”

Abubakar emphasised the need for engaging indigenous medical students in the state’s civil service, saying: “Most of them go away after their housemanship for greener pastures abroad. We urge the Ministry of Secondary and Tertiary Health to strategise effectively and efficiently in safeguarding the number of health workers in the state.”

Similarly, the Niger State Commissioner for Secondary and Tertiary Health, Dr Bello Tukur, urged the medical students to study harder in their various institutions in order not to disappoint the good gesture of the state governor while calling on them to adhere strictly to the agreements stated in the bond.