From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Bingham University in Karu, Nasarawa State, has unveiled plans to bolster its College of Medicine, aiming to make it a top choice for medical students, researchers, and stakeholders. Vice Chancellor Prof. Haruna Kuje Ayuba shared this vision during the university’s second public lecture, titled “Beyond the Operating Room: Reflections of a Surgical Career and Life of Purpose”, delivered by Dr. Jacob Akoh on the Karu campus.
Prof. Ayuba revealed ongoing talks with Dr. Akoh, Dr. Stephen Obaro, Dr. Polycarp Gana, and other experts to establish a cutting-edge research or diagnostic centre at the university. “The facility will, undoubtedly, bring significant improvement in medical education and also provide solutions to some of the diagnostic challenges being faced in healthcare services,” he said.
Dr. Akoh, a seasoned surgeon with over 30 years of practice in the UK and beyond, shared his inspiring journey during the lecture. He discussed his passion for medicine and surgery, outlined Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, and offered solutions. He urged Nigerian medical professionals, both at home and abroad, to address gaps in the system and stressed the need for collective action to overcome government shortcomings.
“But the first thing is to value our lives,” Dr. Akoh said. “For instance, if you are in the UK and you go missing on the hill, the whole government would deploy the army and the police to look for you, helicopters and whatnot. But that is not the experience in Nigeria. A whole plane load of military officers with over 130 could go missing for 12 hours, and nobody will do anything about it.”
“Secondly, if we value human life, we will do things to improve what we know. Why can’t we fix the hospitals here? Why can’t we treat the people? I keep saying, Let’s learn from India. The Indian government went to America and England and enticed back their own highly skilled and trained people,” he added. “If I had stayed in this country, I wouldn’t be as skilled and trained as I am today.”
“I am not advocating that everybody should go, but I’m here advocating that we should improve things. I am here trying to teach people who desire a career in medicine and surgery how to perform and be a proper surgeon. But for things to work, our government needs to recognise what it needs to do to improve the health of the people,” he concluded.