Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria has announced that the Federal Government has approved a special funding of ₦4 billion. This money will be used to improve facilities in the university’s Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Dentistry.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adamu Ahmed, shared this news during an event held to celebrate the induction of 81 new medical doctors in Zaria on Monday.
Professor Ahmed, who was represented by Professor Raymond Bako, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), said the funds will help the university increase its capacity to train more medical students.
He added that the university is seriously considering expanding the Medical School, so it can admit more students in the future.
Currently, over 3,000 students apply each year to study MBBS (Medicine) at ABU, but the school can only admit 180 students due to its limited quota.
“So, you can imagine how hard it is to choose only 180 students out of more than 3,000 applicants,” Ahmed said.
He congratulated the new doctors and said he hopes that ABU will continue to produce more medical graduates in the coming years.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of ABU Teaching Hospital, Prof. Hamidu-Ahmed Umdagas, congratulated the graduates on their achievement.
The CMD, represented by Prof. M.M. Aminu, promised that the hospital would continue to support the clinical training of the new doctors.
He also asked the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to reserve Housemanship positions for all ABU graduates at the university’s teaching hospital.
He explained that the hospital has about 160 housemanship slots, and is ready to accept nearly half of the new doctors.
Umdagas encouraged the new doctors to take the one-year housemanship seriously. He said it is a crucial stage of supervised training before they can work independently.
The Chairman of the event and former Vice-Chancellor of ABU, Prof. Kabir Bala, advised the graduates to always follow medical ethics, keep learning, and treat patients with care and compassion.
He reminded them that being a doctor requires not just medical knowledge, but also empathy, problem-solving skills, and innovation.
He told them to be proud ambassadors of ABU, and to work hard to improve health care in Nigeria and around the world.
The Provost of the College, Prof. Mohammed Shehu, praised the new doctors. He said they were admitted when the school had a quota of only 120 students.
He said the school plans to increase its student intake to 180, with help from the government in the near future.
Prof. Shehu said the new doctors will now begin their housemanship, which is a required training period to help prepare them for working on their own.
He said the housemanship, managed by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), helps new doctors gain hands-on experience in key areas of medicine.
Shehu also reminded the doctors about their ethical duties, and urged them to follow the Medical Code of Ethics closely.
“Being a doctor isn’t just about knowledge,” he said. “You also need to be humble, honest, and show respect to your patients. Good communication is just as important as treatment.”
He encouraged the new doctors to show appreciation to their families, guardians, and the university, and to always uphold the high standards of the medical profession.
The event ended with the graduates taking the ‘Sponsio Academica Oath’, which is a promise to care for patients, maintain confidentiality, and behave professionally.
