The Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has signed a bill converting the state-of-the-art Reference Hospital, Okene, into the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) Teaching Hospital.
This was part of the move to align with the National Universities Commission’s approval of a full-time Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program.
This development was announced in Lokoja on Tuesday by the State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, during a press briefing.
According to Mr. Fanwo, the governor’s step is to ensure the program begins on a solid foundation, adding that the move aligns with the National Universities Commission’s approval of a full-time Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program, among other medical courses, at CUSTECH.
“This achievement is the result of months of coordinated engagement between the university, the State Ministry of Health, and the State Ministry of Education. We commend the State House of Assembly for passing the bill, which has now been signed into law by Governor Ododo,” Fanwo said.
He underlined the administration’s focus on healthcare, pointing out that the CUSTECH Teaching Hospital, formerly the Reference Hospital, has top-notch medical facilities, some of which are making their African debuts.
“With this development, CUSTECH will have cutting-edge medical technology to train outstanding healthcare professionals for Kogi State and beyond,” he added.
Fanwo went on to emphasize the administration’s dedication to education and healthcare, calling the signing a major turning point in the state’s development. He also thanked the State House of Assembly for working together to create this historic accomplishment. Now that the bill is law, CUSTECH can officially launch its MBBS program.
