By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
A total number of 1178 successful candidates who have registered for the year 2024/2025 academic session at the Federal University of Health Sciences, (FUAzare in Bauchi state have been matriculated for academic activities.
The disclosure was made in an address by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Bala M. Audu on the occasion of the 3rd Matriculation Ceremony of the Candidates admitted for the 2024/2025 Academic Session held on SATURDAY, 14th December, 2024.
In his address, the VC stated, “My dear matriculating students, It is indeed my great pleasure to stand before this august gathering to address another group of young committed, vibrant and promising matriculating students of our prestigious University in this historic occasion of their Matriculation.”
He added, “As you are all aware that student’s matriculation is the most important cardinal requirement for qualifying any admitted student as a bonafide member of any tertiary Institution he is admitted into.”
“Therefore, as tradition demands, the University management is here today to perform this pre-requisite function of officially inducting you into the mainstream of Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare community. You should know that thousands qualified young Nigerian candidates like you, are out there looking for admission but may not get admitted into any University,” he added.
The VC reminded them that,”Your admission into this University is highly competitive and for a purpose, and the purpose is to groom and train you to be useful to yourself, your family, society, the Nation and humanity. I, therefore congratulate you and at the same time urge you to be law abiding students and face your studies with all the seriousness it deserves so that at the end, you, your parents, and the University shall celebrate your success.”
According to him,”Since the establishment of this University in 2021, we have made it to be part of our core values of zero tolerance to all kinds of social vices, such as cultism, examination misconducts, sexual harassment, drug abuse, homosexualism, lesbianism, indecent dressing, vandalism, theft and truancy, these anti-social behaviours are not only frowned at but also prohibited.”
He stressed that,”FUHSA would be known not only for giving knowledge but also for moulding character and behavior of its students to become good ambassadors of the nation. Those who break the rules shall be made to face the Disciplinary Committee, this can result in dismissal from the University.”
He stressed,”Let me re-iterate the fact that higher institutions cannot operate in absolute isolation from the communities where they are found. You are to interact with your immediate University Community and the Community of Azare town with positive energy contributing in trust and honesty to its progress and development.”
He told them,”The Oath you have taken today is an indication of your readiness and acceptance to abide by FUHSA laws and statutes as well as a promise you will conduct yourself with decorum during your stay in this Institution. I, therefore, on behalf of myself and the University community, wish you a successful academic pursuit.”
“These rules are the same all over tertiary institutions because they are designed and put in place to train sound, morally upright, matured and well blended minds expected to be the great leaders of tomorrow,” he added.
Bala Audu added that, “This institution is well known for its fundamental principles, norms and cultural values. These values have projected the image of this institution as a center for learning and character moulding of our students. The core values also depict the vision of our University, which is to nurture a university of high standards, to be rated among the best in the world.”
The VC added that,”As for your stay here, I want inform you that my University has made a provision for an acceptable standard academic facilities and welfare for your studies. So use the facilities available to achieve your primary mission for being here. You should know that you are important stakeholders and custodians of these facilities. Use them wisely so that after you leave, your younger ones will also come to benefit from them.”
He stated that,”As you may be aware, the Five pioneer programmes MBBS, Dentistry, Nursing Sciences, Radiography and Human Nutrition and Dietetics have faced NUC accreditation last three weeks and we are optimistic that all the Programmes will scale through and get full accreditation status by the NUC. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) will also come for MBBS and Dentistry Accreditation in early 2025.”
The VC added that,”The other Six courses in Allied Health Sciences would also face the same accreditation exercise next year and the Management will do everything that is required to get our programmes accredited by all regulatory bodies and agencies.”
“Similarly, in our effort to expand our horizon interms of courses, plans are underway to introduce new courses so that we can have full complement of all other Health related courses in the University to make our prestigious University a complete entity in the nearest future,” he added.
According to him,”Let me at this juncture salute your perseverance at the point of your entry when the National Grid collapsed several times, the situation which made life on the Campus very difficult due to the non-availability of power and by extension water supply. I am also pleased to tell you that the Management is making plan to ensure that in a near future, you get uninterrupted water and power supply 24/7 insha Allah.”
According to him,”The University Management sincerely conveys its profound appreciation to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR through the Honourable Minister of Health Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate for upgrading the Federal Medical Centre, Azare to Teaching Hospital which will serve as a Training ground and facility for the University Students.”
According to him,”The introduction of NELFUND Scheme by the President and the subsequent released of the Funds to the beneficiaries (benefitting) students is highly commendable and timely. I therefore wish to request our students to take advantage of the Scheme to ease their studies.”
He also stated that,”Let me also use this opportunity on behalf of the University Management to extend our sincere appreciation to the North East Governors Forum for their support to the University. The Forum has facilitated the allocation of a special intervention project for the construction of Centre for Child and Maternal Health in the University, by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).”
“We also want to put on record our special appreciation and gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum for the support he accorded to the University by donating the sum of N50,000,000:00 to the University for the purchase of Lab Equipment for the Dentistry Programme (Panthom Heads). Not only that, he has just awarded a contract for the construction of 6 3-Bedrooms houses as Visiting Professorial Quarters in the University,” he added.
The VC added that,”And for offering scholarships to all Borno State students in the University. We also wish to extend same to his counterpart, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Bauchi State Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for the introduction of “pre-service scheme” to the MBBS, Dentistry and Nursing Students, and wish to request the Governor to expand the scope to cover other programmes.”
“Let me use this opportunity to show the University’s appreciation of the supports being given to the University by the Bauchi State Government and the Katagum Emirate Council which are a clear manifestation of their seriousness and determination to the development of education as vehicle for transformation,” he added.
Bala Audu concluded stating,”Finally on-behalf of the entire University Community I wish to congratulate the matriculating students for reaching this significant milestone. I urge you to be good ambassadors of your respective families, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, and must express that ambassadorial disposition in all your interactions both within and outside the campus.”
