Follow Us on Google
By Adewale Sanyaolu
The Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) has launched a health innovation series at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) to equip 30 final-year medical students with practical skills, leadership capabilities and exposure to emerging healthcare technologies.
The initiative is designed to strengthen clinical preparedness, support career development and promote innovation among young doctors and emerging health professionals across Africa.
The pilot programme features interactive sessions with experienced professionals, discussions on medical technology and innovation, and guidance to help participants navigate the transition from medical school to professional practice.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIMAID, Prof. Mohammed Mele, represented by the Director-General of the ASR Africa Innovation Centre and Entrepreneurship (ASR-ICE), Prof Muhammad Dauda, commended ASR Africa Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu, for donating the centre’s building.
He said the donation had attracted additional partnerships, making the centre functional and beneficial to the university community.
Mele described the health innovation series as another value addition to the university and urged the participating students to maximise the opportunity to advance their medical careers and improve patient outcomes.
Representing the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ASR Africa, Dr. Ubon Udoh, the organisation’s Multilateral Coordination Specialist, Nakama Keri, attributed the successful launch of the programme to the partnership between the initiative and the university.
Keri said the series was designed to help graduating medical students overcome barriers that could limit their professional growth and expose them to current developments in medical technology.
Other News
He added that strengthening healthcare delivery through innovative approaches remained central to ASR Africa’s health interventions and Rabiu’s vision.
Similarly, the Acting Chief Medical Director of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Dr Mohammed Aboso, described the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital development.
He expressed optimism that the programme would help raise a new generation of medical professionals who were better informed, exposed and prepared for the demands of healthcare delivery.
The Borno State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Prof Baba Malla Gana, who represented the state governor, described the initiative as a potential game-changer in medical career development.
He urged the students to remain in Borno State after graduation and contribute to improving access to healthcare for local communities.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof Adamu Rabasa, a member of UNIMAID’s pioneer class of medical graduates in 1983 and a Professor of Paediatrics at the university, challenged the students to embrace resilience, determination and professional excellence.
Drawing on his medical career, entrepreneurial achievements and contributions to the profession, Rabasa encouraged them to maximise the opportunities offered by modern medical technology and adopt innovative approaches to healthcare delivery.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included the Provost of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof Hamman Garandawa; the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Primary Healthcare Board, Prof Mohammed Arab Alhaji; members of the university management and faculty staff.
