The management of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria has announced that the Federal Government has approved a ₦4 billion special intervention fund to upgrade facilities in the College of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Dentistry.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adamu Ahmed, represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) Prof. Raymond Bako, revealed the development during the induction of 81 newly qualified medical doctors in Zaria on Monday.
According to him, the fund will strengthen medical training programmes and boost the university’s capacity to admit more students.
Ahmed noted that ABU receives over 3,000 applications annually for its MBBS programme, yet the current admission quota remains 180 students, creating enormous selection pressure.
He stressed that the intervention would allow the university to expand infrastructure and accommodate a larger intake.
While congratulating the new doctors, he expressed optimism that the improved facilities will enable ABU to graduate even more medical professionals in the coming years.
In his goodwill message, Prof. Hamidu-Ahmed Umdagas, Chief Medical Director of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), promised continued support for clinical training.
Represented by Prof. M.M. Aminu, Umdagas urged the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to reserve housemanship slots for ABU graduates, noting that ABUTH currently offers about 160 placements—enough to absorb nearly half of the inductees.
He encouraged the graduates to embrace the one-year mandatory housemanship as an essential stage of supervised practice before full professional independence.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the occasion and former ABU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Kabir Bala reminded the graduates to uphold ethical standards, maintain empathy, and remain lifelong learners in their medical careers.
Provost of the College, Prof. Mohammed Shehu, disclosed that ministerial support will soon enable the college to raise its admission capacity from 120 to about 180 students, aligning with the anticipated expansion.
The ceremony concluded with the administration of the Sponsio Academica Oath, underscoring the graduates’ commitment to patient care, confidentiality, and the highest standards of professional conduct.