The federal government of Nigeria has disclosed its plans to establish six universities of health sciences across the six geopolitical regions of the country.
The Vice Chancellor of the Institution, Prof. Jesse Uneke, made this known at a press conference in Uburu, Ohaozara Council Area of Ebonyi State
Professor Uneke had earlier disclosed that the newly established King David Nweze Umahi of Medical Sciences in Ebonyi State has been renamed by the Federal government.
According to Uneke, "the institution is now to be known and addressed as David Nweze Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu."
He said the University's change of name was part of the taking-over agreements between the school and the Federal government.
While disclosing the Federal government's plans to establish six new universities of health sciences across the six geopolitical zones of the country, Professor Uneke, added that the King David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences Uburu had been adopted for the South East zone.
He declared openly a reduction of tuition fees of the institution from N3millon to N1million for major courses including Medicine Surgery and Pharmacy.
He said that the Nursing Sciences which were N2million will now be N700,000 while Industrial Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology which were N1million, have been slashed to N500,000 respectively.
“Following the approval of the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State and the recent take over of the David Nweze Umahi University of Medical Sciences by the federal government, the Management of the University hereby announces the reduction in the school fees payable by students of the University.
“What we are looking at is that we want as many people to be able to afford the university and now it has been able to taken over by the federal government, if the federal government takes over our salaries, and brings capital project funds, why should we keep the tuition fees so high even though I can tell you that to manage the facilities in this university is not a joke.
“We are trying to make the university affordable. If you look at the fees and you want to be very considerate, you cannot compare it with what is happening in other Universities.
“We have done the MOU. As I am talking to you, the bill establishing the University is already in the National Assembly and we are hoping to conclude that within the next few months.
“Once that is done, you have the university law, the university has taken off. We are getting more support from the federal government to strengthen what is happening”, the Vice Chancellor disclosed.
