Bauchi Federal University Urges Government for Perimeter Fence Amid Security Concerns

During its inaugural convocation ceremony held on Saturday, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, situated in Bauchi State, made a fervent appeal to the Federal Government for assistance in constructing a perimeter fence around its campus. Professor Bala Audu, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, underscored this critical need, citing pressing security challenges.

Professor Audu emphasized the university's continued vulnerability to various security threats, attributing this to the absence of adequate perimeter fencing. He implored the government to intervene promptly to safeguard both students and staff. In his words, “Among our major challenges are security concerns, especially as the entire university remains porous due to lack of a perimeter fence. We therefore seek intervention to secure the university as a safer place for our students.”

Beyond security, the Vice-Chancellor also sought immediate support for the development of additional lecture halls, advanced teaching laboratories, and on-campus accommodation to cater to the increasing student enrollment and expanding academic offerings. He further listed critical infrastructure projects, including new faculties for Allied Health Sciences, Clinical Sciences, and Basic Medical Sciences, a contemporary library, and a Senate building, as vital for the university's progress.

Despite these numerous hurdles, Audu highlighted the remarkable growth the university has achieved since its inception in October 2022. He revealed a substantial increase in staff, from 239 to 892, and a surge in student numbers, from 706 to over 6,000, with female students comprising 64 per cent of the population. He also noted the university's diverse student body, representing all states of Nigeria and over 50 per cent of its local government areas. Academically, the institution has broadened its undergraduate courses from five to 22, with five new postgraduate programmes currently under development.

The Vice-Chancellor celebrated the graduation of 50 students from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics as a landmark achievement, noting that three of these pioneering graduates earned first-class honours. He clarified that these graduates successfully completed the four-year Basic Minimum Academic Standards curriculum, which he affirmed provided comprehensive training and practical expertise. Audu also proudly stated that the students created over 34 commercially viable, value-added nutritional products, and one graduate even secured victory in a national Nutrition Research and Innovation Challenge hosted by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria.

Furthermore, Professor Audu advocated for a reassessment of the proposed extension of the Human Nutrition and Dietetics programme from four to five years under the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards. He asserted, “We have proof of concept that this four-year Nutrition Programme and, indeed, other specialised programmes of similar duration are adequate. There is therefore no need to extend them beyond four years.”

Audu further explained that the university is actively enhancing its research capabilities through various initiatives, including academic partnerships, research incentives, and policies aimed at fostering excellence and ethical application of artificial intelligence. He named international collaborators such as the University of Miami, Boston University, and Universiti Sains Malaysia. Domestically, partnerships with other Nigerian universities, teaching hospitals, and state health ministries are bolstering academic growth and clinical education.

The Vice-Chancellor also mentioned that the university is in the process of seeking approval from the National Universities Commission for the introduction of several new undergraduate programmes, specifically Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Computer Science, Data Science, Medicinal Chemistry, and Medical Physics. Additionally, he revealed that the institution has requested funding from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund to establish a specialized centre of excellence dedicated to gynaecological cancer research and treatment.

Audu extended appreciation to the North-East Development Commission for its assistance in establishing an Institute of Maternal and Child Health, an initiative designed to significantly reduce maternal and child mortality rates across the region and the entire nation.

President Bola Tinubu, whose representation at the event was handled by Sunny Echono, the executive secretary of TETFund, reiterated the Federal Government's unwavering dedication to safeguarding students and academic environments. President Tinubu affirmed that the administration is bolstering security within educational institutions through the Safe School Initiative and other strategic interventions to ensure the protection of students, educators, and the broader academic community. He stated, “A secure and conducive learning environment is therefore not merely a security imperative; it is fundamental to educational excellence, human capital development and the sustainable development of our nation.”

The President also announced that 1,798 students at the university have successfully obtained financial assistance from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund for the upcoming 2025/2026 academic year. These beneficiaries constitute 43 percent of the student body.