Shettima Commissions Teaching Hospital, Two Schools in Borno, Reaffirms FG’s Support for Reconstruction
Vice President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare, education and human capital development, saying President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is designed to deliver lasting social benefits through investments in essential public services.
Shettima stated this on Friday while commissioning the ultra-modern Kashim Ibrahim University Teaching Hospital (KIUTH) and two schools in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said sustainable development must go beyond the tenure of political officeholders, stressing that the true measure of public service lies in the institutions established, opportunities created and lives improved.
“Someday, and that day is nearer than we imagine, we shall be judged by what survives our time in office. The offices we held, the aides who surrounded us and the length of our convoys will have surrendered their importance. What will endure are the institutions we built, the roads we constructed and the lives made better because we served,” the Vice President said.
He commended Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for prioritising healthcare and education, noting that the newly commissioned facilities demonstrated how investment in critical public infrastructure could translate into practical benefits for citizens.
According to Shettima, the teaching hospital would improve access to specialised healthcare, reduce the need for patients to travel outside the state for treatment and strengthen medical training and research.
“For a family already burdened by illness, the cost and anxiety of travelling outside the state can compound their suffering. This hospital offers the prospect of expert attention nearer home,” he said.
On education, the Vice President said rebuilding schools in communities affected by insurgency was essential to restoring hope, expanding opportunities and preparing young people for productive participation in the economy.
“In a state whose communities have endured the disruption of insurgency, a classroom carries a particular significance. It restores the expectation that tomorrow can be planned for,” he stated.
Drawing on his experience as a former governor of Borno State, Shettima acknowledged the challenges of delivering development amid insecurity and praised Zulum’s efforts to sustain investment in critical public infrastructure.
“To improve lives and livelihoods in a state that has withstood such a climate of insecurity demands uncommon fortitude. I know the weight of that responsibility. As the street language goes, I have been there and done that,” he said.
The Vice President conveyed President Tinubu’s felicitations to the government and people of Borno State and reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting reconstruction, peacebuilding and human capital development in the state.
He said investment in human capital was based on the conviction that a healthier and better-educated population could increase productivity, improve earnings and contribute more to national development.
“Our investment in human capital proceeds from the conviction that a healthier, better educated population can produce more, earn more and contribute more. The Federal Government will continue to support Borno’s efforts to consolidate peace, rebuild communities and expand opportunities for its people,” Shettima said.
He added that Borno’s reconstruction experience offered lessons on rebuilding communities emerging from conflict, particularly through restoring essential public institutions.
The Vice President commended the state government, healthcare professionals, educators, contractors, development partners and security personnel for their contributions to the projects. However, he stressed that the facilities’ ultimate value would depend on the quality of services they provided.
“The responsibility now is to keep these institutions worthy of that faith. Their value will be measured in the care patients receive and the education children acquire,” he said.
Earlier, Governor Zulum described the teaching hospital as a major expression of his administration’s commitment to providing modern healthcare facilities for the people of Borno State.
He said the hospital was not merely a building but also a centre for learning, specialised healthcare delivery and medical training that would serve millions of people across the North-East.
According to the governor, the facility would serve as a clinical training centre for the College of Health Sciences of Kashim Ibrahim University, providing training opportunities for medical students, resident doctors, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, physiotherapists and other healthcare professionals.
Zulum assured that the state government would continue investing in the hospital to ensure its effective operation.
“We have recruited and we will continue to recruit qualified healthcare professionals. We will provide equipment, utility infrastructure and an enabling environment for the hospital to function at the highest standard,” he said.
Also speaking, the Pro-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, described the commissioning as a significant milestone in efforts to improve healthcare delivery, medical education, research and professional training.
He expressed optimism that the hospital would strengthen healthcare services in Borno State and contribute to the well-being of people across the North-East.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of KIUTH, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, described the hospital as a landmark project for the state. He commended Shettima for his role in Borno’s political transition and praised Zulum for establishing the hospital and equipping it with modern medical facilities.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of KIUTH, Prof. Ibrahim Musa Kida, said the hospital’s success would depend not only on its buildings and equipment but also on the competence of its personnel and the dedication of its staff.
Kida also commended Shettima for his contributions to the development of Borno State and Nigeria, particularly his continued commitment to peace and development.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Prof. Fatima Kyari, assured that the council would facilitate the accreditation of all relevant medical science courses at the institution.
Shettima Commissions Teaching Hospital, Two Schools in Borno, Reaffirms FG’s Support for Reconstruction