The medical director (MD) of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Professor Ibrahim Abdu Wakawa, has said that his eight-year tenure recorded tremendous achievements in infrastructure, human resources, improvement of health service provision, and collaboration with other health institutions.
Professor Wakawa said this in Maiduguri at a ceremony to mark the end of his tenure. He added that his leadership in the institution has been marked by numerous achievements and occasional challenges, even though the successes outweigh the challenges.
He said the achievements include the institution’s transition to complete digital services to reduce waiting time and ensure data security, upgrading obsolete equipment and facilities, and upscaling general medical services and units.
According to Wakawa, other achievements recorded during his tenure include providing health services to over 9,000 internally displaced persons ( IDPs) within the camp and host communities.
In the human resources department, Wakawa said over 400 staff members were employed, while opportunities for training and capacity-building of staff were created.
He said that the institution’s College of Nursing produced over 200 students, adding that staff promotion was merit-based with no selective treatment.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and UNODC selected the institution for pilot medication-assisted treatment. We are also into collaboration with the IOM, WHO and UNFPA for the provision of services to indigent clients, especially those with psycho-social disabilities. We are collaborating with the University of Sussex in the United Kingdom for a groundbreaking research among blacks, particularly those of Northern Nigeria extraction,” Wakawa said.
He thanked all the institution staff members for their massive support and urged them to extend it to the incoming MD.
In his remarks, the incoming and acting medical director, Dr Umar Baba Musami, described Wakawa as a highly skilled psychiatrist who has demonstrated proficiency in diagnosing and managing complex psychiatric disorders, ensuring optimal patient care through evidence-based interventions.
He noted that Professor Wakawa has contributed immensely to psychiatric health advocacy, working towards expanding and improving mental health services both within the hospital and in the border community. He added that his unwavering commitment to ethical medical practice and institutional development makes him an invaluable asset to the psychiatric profession.
The hospital’s acting director of Administration, Malam Saleh Mohammed, noted that Professor Wakawa has received numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, in recognition of his outstanding contribution. He said his works have been published in leading medical journals and presented at conferences around the world.
“His eight-year tenure marked exceptional leadership, dedication and groundbreaking achievements in the field of psychiatry,” Mohammed said.
