Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
The Federal Government has de-merged the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (AE-FUTHA)) thus returning the former Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, to the state government.
The Federal Government took over the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki in January 2012 and merged it with the then Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.
The hospital was later renamed the Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital (AE-FUTHA) by Former President Muhammadu Buhari in April, 2019, in honour of the late, former Vice President of the country, Dr Alex Ekwueme.
Governor Francis Nwifuru made the pronouncement of the de-merging on Saturday during the 12th–15th convocation ceremony of the Ebonyi State University Abakaliki (EBSU).
Nwifuru disclosed that the necessary processes had been concluded and the state had taken over its former teaching hospital.
“The take over is to enable EBSU students to pass through the hospital‘s medical school.
“The AE-FUTHA is seen as one institution and there is no way one institution can graduate students from two institutions.
“This will make the AE-FUTHA graduate medical students from the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo while the Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital graduates students from EBSU.”
The governor noted that his administration would continue formulating policies which would enhance the institution in all ramifications.
“We have increased the salaries of academic staff of the institution by 20 per cent while that of non-academic staff had been increased by 10 percent.
“The school fees of students at the university have been reduced by 10 percent while monthly subvention to it has been reviewed upwards from N200million to N280million.
“First-class graduates from the university whether indigenes or not would be offered automatic employment to teach there.”
He congratulated the graduands for successfully completing their academic endeavours and urged them to utilise the garnered knowledge to enhance the state and country.
Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, the Vice Chancellor of the university, thanked the governor and the honorary degree awardees for gracing the occasion noting that the school was on upward trajectory.
“This combined convocation which has 9,727 graduands covers the periods of 2019 to 2022.
“8,278 graduands bagged their first degrees, post graduate diplomas —173, master’s degree —605 and doctorate degrees–498.
“90 graduands bagged first class honours, second class upper—2,061, second class lower–2,003, third class–2,789 and pass–70.”
Honorary doctorate degrees in various disciplines were conferred on eminent Nigerians such as the Immediate Past State Governor and Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi.
The other awardees include Former Senate President Sen. Pius Anyim, Chairman of Heirs Holdings Tony Elumelu, former Central Bank Governor Lamidi Sanusi among others.
