President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening health sciences education and research, disclosing that the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), received an initial N8 billion intervention from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Tinubu also disclosed that the Federal Government provided N10 billion for the National Research Fund in 2026 to promote research and innovation across Nigerian universities.

The President, represented by the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, spoke at the maiden convocation ceremony of FUHSA, where 50 pioneer students graduated from the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics.

He said the university was established in response to gaps in Nigeria’s healthcare system exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which underscored the need for well-trained health professionals, stronger research capacity and innovative solutions to emerging health challenges.

Tinubu said the government would continue to support the institution through TETFund’s regular and special interventions, as well as provisions in the 2026 national budget for road infrastructure, lecture halls, laboratories and utility vehicles.

He urged specialised institutions, particularly those offering health sciences programmes, to take advantage of available research funding to develop solutions to the country’s pressing healthcare challenges.

“Our investment in tertiary education goes beyond infrastructure. We are equally committed to strengthening research and innovation because no nation can achieve sustainable development without generating knowledge and translating it into practical solutions,” he said.

On access to higher education, the President disclosed that 1,798 students of FUHSA had secured support through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to him, the beneficiaries represent 43 per cent of the university’s student population, demonstrating the role of the student loan scheme in reducing financial barriers to higher education.

Tinubu said the government remained committed to ensuring that qualified Nigerians were not denied university education because of financial constraints.

He described NELFUND as an investment in the future of young Nigerians, noting that the scheme would help students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds pursue their educational ambitions and contribute to national development.

The President also announced that the Federal Government had signed agreements with academic and non-teaching staff unions in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education on the payment of the Consolidated Academic Tools Allowance (CATA) and Consolidated Non-Teaching Tools Allowance (CONTTA), respectively, effective January 1, 2026.

He said the agreements recognised the complementary roles of academic and non-academic personnel in delivering quality education, advancing research and ensuring the effective administration of tertiary institutions.

Tinubu further disclosed that the government had removed federal universities from the requirement to obtain recruitment waivers from the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.

The measure, he said, was designed to strengthen institutional autonomy by enabling the Federal Ministry of Education and university governing councils to respond more effectively to legitimate staffing needs.

He added that the government was also taking steps to migrate tertiary institution staff from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to improve payroll efficiency, transparency and accountability.

According to him, the reforms are part of broader efforts to create an enabling environment for effective teaching, research, innovation and service delivery.

The President also commended FUHSA for establishing collaborations with internationally recognised institutions, including the University of Miami, Boston University and Universiti Sains Malaysia.

He urged the university management to sustain the partnerships and translate them into measurable outcomes in teaching, research, capacity development and healthcare delivery.

Congratulating the pioneer graduands, Tinubu urged them to deploy their knowledge and skills towards improving the health and well-being of Nigerians, particularly vulnerable populations.

He said their distinction as the institution’s first graduating class came with the responsibility to uphold professionalism, integrity, compassion and service.

“Your success will be measured not only by your personal achievements, but also by the positive difference you make in the lives of others,” he said.

Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to developing FUHSA into a centre of excellence in health sciences education, research and innovation, expressing optimism that the institution would produce competent professionals capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.