By Our Reporter, Abuja

The Federal Government and Nasarawa State University, Keffi, NSUK, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for the takeover of Federal Medical Centre, FMC Keffi, as the university’s teaching hospital.

The MOU was signed on Tuesday at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja and presided over by the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako.

For the Federal Government, the Director of Health Services and the Director of Legal Services signed the agreement.

For Nasarawa State and NSUK, the signatories were the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. John Mamman, Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sa’adatu Hassan Liman, and Registrar, Dr. Bala Ahmed. The Chief Medical Director of FMC Keffi, Dr. Usman Ahmed, also signed on behalf of the medical centre.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Mamman, who represented Governor Abdullahi Sule, described the takeover as a milestone that will complement the state government’s efforts in education, healthcare, agriculture and industrialization.

Prof. Liman called it “a dream come true” and pledged the university’s commitment to maximize the facility for the training of medical and allied health sciences students.

Both officials thanked the Federal Ministry of Health for the partnership, noting that it will significantly improve clinical training and healthcare delivery in the state.

The highlight was the formal exchange of signed documents between the CMD of FMC Keffi, Dr. Usman, and the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Liman.

Also in attendance were the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sule on Liaison, Abuja, Hon. Yusuf Jibrin Maiangwa, and the Chief Executive/Head of Administration of the Liaison Office, Dr. Abdulhamid Musa Tanko.

Health ministry officials said the conversion of FMC Keffi to NSUK Teaching Hospital will expand access to quality healthcare services while providing the university with a modern facility for teaching, research and patient care.