Vice Chancellor of FUHSO, Professor Aba Uba
Management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO), has announced that students studying Mathematics at the institution will no longer pay tuition, a move aimed at making higher education more affordable while encouraging enrolment in the discipline.
Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Aba Uba, disclosed this while addressing journalists at the institution’s temporary campus in Otukpo, Benue State.
According to him, the decision followed concerns by the university management over the financial burden on many families, particularly in Benue State where agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for a large percentage of residents.
He explained that the university’s management approached the Governing Council with a proposal to exempt Mathematics students from paying tuition, noting that the council approved the request.
Professor Uba said Mathematics remains a foundation for virtually all science-based programmes, stressing that making the course tuition-free would encourage more young people to pursue the discipline and strengthen the country’s science and health workforce.
He added that, beyond the waiver for Mathematics students, the university had also reviewed and reduced tuition fees across other programmes, following the intervention of the management and the approval of the Governing Council.
Speaking on infrastructure development, the Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism that the university would soon relocate to its permanent site. He said construction work was progressing steadily, with several buildings already at advanced stages of completion.
“We are committed to moving to the permanent campus as soon as the ongoing projects are completed,” he said.
Professor Uba also commended the Federal Government for establishing the institution and for its continued support through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), saying the interventions had contributed significantly to the university’s growth.
He assured that the university would continue to pursue its mandate by expanding its academic programmes and improving teaching and research facilities.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that FUHSO is considering the introduction of Agricultural Science programmes, explaining that food and nutrition play a critical role in healthcare.
According to him, offering agriculture-related courses would complement the university’s health-focused mandate rather than deviate from it.
Professor Uba further revealed that the institution’s student population has witnessed remarkable growth, rising from an initial enrolment of 564 students to about 2,373.
He noted that while the university is known for medical education, its mandate extends beyond producing medical doctors.
He said the institution is equally committed to training other critical healthcare professionals, including nurses, medical laboratory scientists, physiologists, anatomists and other specialists needed to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
