Health

MTN Foundation commended for revamping laboratories in Gombe school

Published

10 months ago

October 15, 2024

DailyFact Desk

By Our Correspondent

Gov.Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State, on Tuesday, commended MTN Foundation for upgrading science laboratories in the state.

Yahaya gave the commendation while speaking during the inauguration of the newly-renovated science laboratories at Government Science Secondary School, Gombe.

Yahaya, who was represented by the state’s Commissioner of Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr Abdullahi Garkuwa said that the intervention would complement government’s efforts at revamping schools infrastructure.
According to him, the science laboratories would encourage students of the school to enhance their knowledge of science, technology, and innovation.
He said that the foundation’s intervention, which he said was part of MTN’s corporate social responsibilities to Gombe State, would help improve students’ understanding of the practical teaching of core science subjects.
Yahaya said that MTN Foundation had, over the past years, impacted positively on the lives of the people of Gombe State through health, education, and other sectors.
He said that the support would help lay a good foundation that will, in the future, boost manpower in the health sector.
The governor said his administration had invested a lot in science, technology, and innovation and would continue to welcome any interest to strengthen that investment.
“There are a lot of gaps in the area of science and technology teaching, we believe, with these facilities, which is almost like the ones in tertiary institutions, MTN Foundation has done a lot for us.
“We commend MTN Foundation, and we are happy with the support because it will impact greatly on our young people.
“We will utilise this well to teach our students well so that when they get to higher institutions, they will have a good foundation to excel at the top,” he said.
Corroborating the governor, Hajiya Ashaitu Maigari, the state’s Commissioner for Education, said MTN’s intervention would bring improvement in the state’s education sector.
Maigari said that the support was a collaborative effort between the state government and MTN aimed at addressing gaps in the education sector.
According to her, over 3, 000 students would benefit from the facilities that have been provided by MTN Foundation.
She stated that learning was a major challenge, and she expressed optimism that the intervention would help address that through practical teaching.
She said that the state government had invested several billions of Naira in revamping and upgrading schools across the state, hence MTN’s intervention “is highly commendable.”
Mr Hamza Ibrahim, Senior Manager with MTN, said his organisation had provided over 10 projects to the benefit of people in the state.
“We have invested hundreds of millions in making sure that students of the school have the equipment to learn effectively.
“In Gombe, we have done close to 10 projects over a couple of years, from boreholes, laboratories like this, health facilities renovated, and many more,” Ibrahim said.
According to him, the intervention shows that MTN is committed to empowering youth and promoting academic excellence in public secondary schools across the country.
Ibrahim said that the foundation’s Science and Technology Laboratory initiative, is designed to improve the teaching standards and learning outcomes of science subjects in public secondary schools.
He said that the foundation had invested over N2 billion in renovating 102 science laboratories in 32 secondary schools across 15 states in Nigeria within the last three years.
The principal of the school, Mr Abdulhakim Mudansir, commended the partnership between the state government and MTN Foundation, which had helped improve the infrastructure of his school.
Our correspondent reports that two laboratories each were upgraded for biology, physics, and chemistry and a laboratory for agriculture, making a total of seven laboratories.

Health

Gombe Hosts National Nursing Workshop, Urges Review of Curriculum and Embrace of AI in Healthcare

Published

1 week ago

July 30, 2025

DailyFact Desk

By Editor Daily Facts

Nurses and midwives across Nigeria have been charged to uphold professionalism, compassion, and adaptability in delivering quality healthcare services, as Gombe State hosted the 2025 National Examiners Workshop organized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Declaring the workshop open on Tuesday in Gombe, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru, commended the Council for selecting Gombe State to host the crucial event. He emphasized the commitment of his administration to improving the health sector through policy reforms, infrastructure development, and capacity building.

“We have prioritized the health sector by upgrading Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across all 114 wards in the state. This is to provide an enabling environment for healthcare professionals, including nurses and midwives, to deliver effective services,” Dr. Dahiru said.

He revealed that the state government has made significant improvements to the welfare of nurses and midwives, and urged them to show empathy in dealing with patients.

Dr. Dahiru also used the platform to call for a comprehensive review of the national nursing and midwifery training curriculum. He noted that the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technological innovations in the global healthcare landscape demands that Nigerian practitioners adapt to modern trends.

“This is the time to update the training manual to reflect emerging realities. The future of healthcare lies in innovation, and nurses—especially those in rural communities—must be equipped with the skills and knowledge to meet these evolving challenges,” he added.

The guest speaker, Professor Saleh Garba, lauded the organizers of the workshop and urged participants to make practical use of the knowledge and skills acquired during the training. He described the workshop as a vital platform for updating participants on global best practices in nursing and midwifery education.

Also speaking at the event, the Emir of Akko, Alhaji Umar Muhammad Atiku, described nurses and midwives as pivotal members of society who contribute meaningfully to community well-being. He appealed to all levels of government to prioritize investment in their welfare for improved service delivery.

The theme of the 2025 workshop, “Competency-Based Assessment: A Foundation for Effective Nursing and Midwifery Education and Practice,” underscores the need for a modernized, skills-based approach to training that aligns with international standards.

The workshop brought together examiners, educators, health professionals, and stakeholders who deliberated on critical aspects of nursing education, including curriculum review, assessment methods, and integration of emerging technologies.

As the healthcare sector continues to evolve, stakeholders at the workshop agreed that the challenge ahead lies in how quickly nurses and midwives can adapt to change—not only to enhance service delivery but also to strengthen the nation’s overall health system.

ENDS

Health

Gombe Hosts National Nursing Workshop, Urges Review of Curriculum and Embrace of AI in Healthcare

Published

1 week ago

July 30, 2025

DailyFact Desk

By Editor Daily Facts

He revealed that the state government has made significant improvements to the welfare of nurses and midwives, and urged them to show empathy in dealing with patients.

ENDS

Health

Gombe State Strengthens Health Sector with Four-Day Capacity Building for Health Managers

Published

3 weeks ago

July 18, 2025

DailyFact Desk

By Muhammad Jamil Abubakar

The Gombe State Government has commenced a four-day capacity development workshop for health managers and leaders, aimed at improving the state’s Annual Operational Plans (AOP) and enhancing healthcare delivery systems. The initiative is supported by the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) in collaboration with key development partners.

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Gombe State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Ibrahim Yakubustated that the training will empower health personnel to effectively plan and execute health interventions across the state. He emphasized the ministry’s commitment to ensuring no stakeholder is left behind in driving progress in the health sector.

“The AOP reflects all activities scheduled for the year and will guide service delivery in both rural and urban communities,” Dr. Yakubu said, noting that the initiative aligns with Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya’s strong support for health sector reforms in the state.

Also addressing participants, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Suraj Abdulkarim, said the workshop is historic, as it marks the first time the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) a strategic planning and coordination model has been fully adopted in Nigeria at the sub-national level.

He explained that last year’s operational plan identified key priorities, especially those targeting women, children, and newborns, in line with national and global health targets. Nigeria currently contributes nearly 25% of global maternal mortality, a burden the Gombe government aims to reduce through focused interventions.

Dr. Abdulkarim also highlighted the MAMMI program initiated by the state government, which focuses on six key areas including maternal health. A unit has been established to monitor and improve healthcare delivery at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels.

The program also addresses human resources for health. Measures are being put in place to assess available skilled personnel, deploy them strategically across the state, and provide incentives such as rural accommodation and motivation packages to retain staff in underserved areas.

Improved data collection and evidence-based decision-making are also priorities under the program.

Dr. Tolu Adeniji, a Consultant Public Health Physician with NHSRII, described the training as a cascade model that builds leadership, systems thinking, and problem-solving capacity at all levels of government. According to him, the initiative stems from a national agreement between the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Ministry of Health, and the Presidency to harmonize health efforts and improve key performance indicators across states.

Dr. Adeniji said the workshop will enhance planning capacity within Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), with lessons from the training to be scaled down to local government health teams ensuring inclusive and sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery in Gombe State.