Over two hundred graduates of medical sciences have returned to Yobe State to boost it’s health sector.
These grdautes are beneficiaries of the state governor, Alh. Mai Mala Buni’s scholarship program.
Like many other health facilities in the state, the Yobe State University Teaching Hospital, recognized as one of the advanced teaching hospitals in Nigeria, is facing shortage of health personnel.
Established in 2017, the hospital has attracted patients with complex medical conditions from across Nigeria and neighboring countries, thanks to its state-of-the-art facilities.
Despite these advantages, Yobe State has faced a significant shortage of medical professionals to utilize the teaching hospital’s full potential and other health facilities across the state.
According to a study published on ResearchGate, the state’s healthcare human resources were severely impacted during the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency, which led to the migration of healthcare workers, particularly non-indigenous ones, and the suspension of programs providing external technical assistance.
As a result, hospitals across Yobe were overwhelmed, with numerous patients left unattended due to a lack of sufficient medical personnel.
Upon taking office, Governor Mai Mala Buni introduced the Buni Foreign Scholarship Scheme as a key component of the Recovery Through Education and Scholarships (RETES) framework.
This initiative provided scholarships for state residents, focusing on health-related disciplines.
Under this scheme, a total of 371 Yobe indigenes were fully funded to study in 16 countries worldwide.
According to Dr. Kagu Abubakar, Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Scholarship Board, about 233 were sent to India to pursue courses in nursing, pharmacy, medical laboratory science, radiology, psychotherapy, engineering, and other fields.
Initially, the 233 scholars found themselves at a substandard, unaccredited university, a situation that turned into a scandal as those responsible were accused of compromising the state’s future for personal gain.
‘I wasn’t there when it all started. I had to personally meet the governor to insist that something must be done,’ said Dr. Kagu.
In response, Governor Buni formed a new committee that included Dr. Kagu, who spent over 40 days identifying top universities.
The scholars were eventually transferred to seven accredited universities across five states in India.
Of the 233 Buni Scholars, 210 have successfully graduated, with around 150 specializing in fields such as pharmacy, nursing, medical laboratory science, radiology, public health, and optometry. Most of these graduates have returned to Nigeria.
According to Dr. Kagu, the government has begun the process of registering some of these graduates with their respective professional councils.
‘I am proud to let you know that the Yobe State government has accomplished this, and these graduates can now compete with their counterparts globally,’ Dr. Kagu stated.
With the addition of these Buni Scholars and the 330 medical personnel previously employed by Governor Mai Mala Buni in 2022, it is hoped that Yobe State will make significant strides in addressing its healthcare workforce deficit as planned.
