UMTH: 40-Room Lodge for the Comfort of Patients’ Relations and Visitors

By: Balami Lazarus

Writing on the progress of developments and innovations at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), you begin to wonder what literary genre you are going to use to write the literature of this great hospital. Well, for NEWSng, prose is the best genre to place UMTH. Why? Because there are so many angles one can take up the story of this hospital under the progressive leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, the Chief Medical Director (CMD).

The rhythm of innovations in terms of making the hospital a serene and comfortable environment for medical and health care, where medical treatments are administered to patients, taking into consideration the comfort of patients’ relations and visitors to the hospital, and the need for affordable accommodation is paramount.

Therefore, the rhythm is rhyming with the ongoing construction of a 40-room lodge sponsored by the Borno State Government under the administration of His Excellency Babagana Zulum. NEWSng was also informed that such a project/innovation is not common in most hospitals.

Similarly, there are other facilities like orchards, restaurants, and gardens with water fountains for the relaxation and comfort of recuperating patients or their relations, including visitors and students alike. There is also a large conference hall with over 350 seats open for both internal and public use to generate more revenue for the hospital.

Hospitals are generally seen as places meant for medical/healthcare services for patients only. But the case of University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) is a shift from hospital tradition—a different ball game.

Notwithstanding, its primary objectives are priorities: to provide medical and health care services, teaching, and research for the betterment of our health sector.

“Comprehensive medical health cover” is a term/language used and associated with the insurance industry. Where you are totally covered and insured health-wise.

Today UMTH has covered you comprehensively, bringing the comforts of homes near patients who are seeking medical treatments, care, and attention to make them feel comfortable as a way to get healed. For this reason, Prof. Ahidjo has worked out sponsorship for providing the hospital with 40 rooms in the Hospital Lodge within the premises of the facility meant for patients’ relations and visitors. The rooms are all en suite and shall be equipped with modern facilities for the comforts of the patient’s relations who might have come from far or near, as the case may be.

You may wish to agree with NEWSng that UMTH is a pacesetter among her peers in terms of modern hospital equipment, materials, progress, growth, and developments.

UMTH: 40-Room Lodge for the Comfort of Patients’ Relations and Visitors

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FCE Gombe gets new Registrar

The Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe, has approved the appointment of Mallam Haruna Ayuba, the most senior Deputy Registrar, as Acting Registrar of the College.

Ayuba’s appointment which is to ensure continuity in the administration of the College, followed the dismissal of four senior officers of the institution.

Mr Dahiru Gurama, the Acting Director, Public Relations and Protocol at the College disclosed this in a press statement issued in Gombe on Tuesday.

Gurama said that the Council approved the dismissal of the four senior officers of the institution based on gross misconduct.

Our Correspondent reports that those dismissed are the Registrar, Alhaji Umar Bello; the College Librarian, Yusuf Aliyu; the Director of Works and Services, Mr. Muhammad Malam.

An internal member of the Governing Council representing the Non-Teaching Staff Congregation, Ibrahim Shehu completes the number.

He said that the decision was taken at the 7th meeting of the Governing Council held on 31st January, 2026, at the headquarters of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), Abuja.

“The dismissals followed earlier suspensions and were based on the findings and recommendations of a fact-finding committee.

“The Committee was set up by the Federal Ministry of Education, as well as the Governing Council’s Investigative committee, which indicted the officers on various counts of gross misconduct.”

ECOWAS, Senegal and UNHCR Launch Joint Humanitarian Initiative to Support Refugees

By: Michael Mike

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), in collaboration with the Government of Senegal and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has officially launched a cooperation and humanitarian assistance initiative aimed at improving protection, livelihoods and social inclusion for refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons in Senegal.

The launch ceremony, held in Dakar, brought together senior Senegalese government officials, ECOWAS commissioners, UNHCR representatives, development partners and leaders of refugee communities. The initiative marks a major implementation milestone of a project conceived in 2023, at a time when global humanitarian funding is declining and refugee assistance worldwide is under severe strain.

Delivering remarks on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission, officials described the programme as a demonstration of regional solidarity and a reaffirmation of ECOWAS’ commitment to human dignity. They noted that West Africa continues to face complex challenges including conflict, climate change, disasters and economic instability, all of which contribute to forced displacement and increased pressure on host communities.

The ECOWAS-supported intervention, valued at over 500,000 dollars, is designed to provide life-saving assistance while promoting sustainable livelihoods, social cohesion and peaceful coexistence between displaced populations and host communities. According to ECOWAS, the initiative goes beyond emergency relief by investing in long-term stability, national security and development.

Speaking on behalf of refugees and asylum seekers, the Chair of the Committee of Representatives of Refugees in Senegal, Mr. Lambert Koliti, welcomed the agreement as a vital source of hope for displaced families. He said the programme will expand access to education, vocational training, healthcare and social support, enabling refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity and contribute positively to their host communities.

Refugee leaders appealed to ECOWAS to support initiatives led by refugees and to integrate displaced persons into regional training, employment and entrepreneurship programmes. They also called on the Senegalese government to strengthen measures that promote durable solutions, including access to livelihoods and essential services.

In a statement delivered on behalf of UNHCR, the agency commended ECOWAS and Senegal for the strength of the tripartite partnership, describing it as a practical example of responsibility sharing in line with the Global Compact on Refugees. UNHCR emphasized that responses to forced displacement require collective, coordinated and predictable action rather than isolated national efforts.

Senegal was praised for its commitment to refugee protection, including recent legislative reforms that modernize the national asylum system and improve access to rights for refugees and stateless persons. Officials noted that these reforms contribute to broader ECOWAS efforts toward harmonized asylum governance across the region.

Despite ongoing institutional restructuring and funding constraints within the humanitarian sector, speakers expressed confidence that the cooperation framework would help pool resources, strengthen national capacities and deliver targeted support to the most vulnerable populations.

The launch concluded with renewed calls for sustained collaboration among ECOWAS, Senegal, UNHCR, development partners and refugee communities to ensure that no one is left behind, while promoting peace, resilience and regional solidarity across West Africa.

ECOWAS, Senegal and UNHCR Launch Joint Humanitarian Initiative to Support Refugees