Yakubu Gowon Varsity Secures N4bn FME/TETFund Funding For Health Sciences Expansion

The Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja) has been selected as one of six Nigerian universities to benefit from the 2026 Special Intervention for Health Professions (SHIP) programme, a joint initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education (FMOE) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

This grant followed a successful application/bidding by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Titus Ibekwe, on behalf of the College of Health Sciences and the University.

The University will receive N4 billion to support infrastructural and equipment expansion in its health-related faculties.

The 2026 SHIP funding is meant for the MBBS, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, with the goal of increasing the infrastructure, student quotas and strengthening the capacity of health sciences education in the country.

After a thorough review of institutional performance, capacity, and priorities in the health sciences, the Ministry of Education and TETFund identified six universities for the 2026 SHIP programme+four federal and two state institutions.

The universities selected for the 2026 SHIP funding are: North-Central: University of Abuja, North-West: Bayero University, Kano, North-East: Modibbo Adama University, Yola, South-South: Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, South-West: Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, and South-East: Abia State University.

Receiving the news, the Vice-Chancellor, Yakubu Gowon University, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, described the selection as a significant achievement for the University.

He lauded the efforts of the leadership of the College of Health Sciences and added that the funding would help to enhance the University’s capacity to provide quality training for health professionals and contribute greatly to national development.b

“The SHIP programme will support our efforts to expand facilities. It will also help to strengthen teaching and research, and equip our students with the skills required for modern healthcare delivery.

“We are grateful to the Ministry of Education and TETFund for their confidence in the University, and we assure them that these resources will be used transparently and effectively to achieve maximum results,” the VC added.