UMTH: Received Ophthalmic Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment

By: Balami Lazarus

The University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) has an increase in sensitive hospital equipment donated by a non-governmental organization (NGO) known as Christian Blind Mission (CMB) International in collaboration with the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN).

These pieces of equipment are ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical equipment worth 350 million, which were officially handed over to the hospital to be used in the department of ophthalmology.

The equipment, not limited to optical cameras, blocking machines, and non-contact tonometers/patchy meters, among others, are donated to the department.

In his welcome address, Dr. Mustapha Waziri, the head of the Department of Ophthalmology, said that this equipment was timely because the flood disaster of 2024 has affected the department. “We are pleased to have this equipment in this great hospital. We are grateful to CMB and COCIN for this donation.”

Speaking during the occasion, the country director of Christian Blind Mission (CBM), Mr. Samuel Omoi, said that this equipment will go a long way to solving the problem of eye ailments in Borno State. “I believe that UMTH will put to use the ophthalmic diagnostic and surgical equipment for the benefit of the public who are in need of its services.”

Goodwill messages came from well-meaning Nigerians commending the CBN/COCIN and the Chief Medical Director of UMTH, Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, for his efforts towards making the hospital world-class in medical service delivery.

UMTH: Received Ophthalmic Diagnostic and Surgical Equipment

UMTH: Keeping The Surroundings Clean and Neat, Contact Cleaners At Work

By: Balami Lazarus

Surroundings are made out of the larger environment. Therefore, the environment is part of our surroundings, either homes or institutional surroundings.

Indeed, surroundings need care—care of keeping them clean and neat both inside and outside. I recalled my health science at primary school, where we were taught basic personal health habits. Further lessons of the subject are hygiene and keeping our surroundings clean.

For this reason, NEWSng thought it wise in her recent visit to University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) to bring to the fore the cleanness, neatness, and beauty of her surroundings. The hospital is said to be one of the cleanest medical facilities in Maiduguri. “The hospital surroundings are very clean. In fact, not only the outside but also the inside. Our offices, conveniences, and other facilities are properly maintained and kept clean and neat.”

Most times public facilities are worse hit by negligence, where those assigned to care for and maintain those facilities and its surroundings are at times not aware that good, healthy, and clean surroundings facilitate good health and increased human capacity in productivity of goods and services.

Hospitals like UMTH are where you breathe and inhale fresh, clean air full of fragrance. It has made patients and visitors feel at home with green, clean, and neat surroundings.

Testimonies from visitors to the hospital show that apart from its surroundings, wards and offices are kept clean. “My first impression is the clean and neat surroundings of the hospital,” said Mr. Pius Okolobe. Wards are always swept and mopped constantly to maintain hygiene every other day.

Confer Cleaners Limited, the company behind the clean surroundings of UMTH, acknowledged the fact that they are happy with the leadership of Prof. Ahmed Ahidjo, the Chief Medical Director, for appreciating their good works for keeping the hospital surroundings clean and neat.

In order to improve the beauty of the hospital surroundings, water fountains, parks, and gardens are part of her beautifications, making it conducive for patients, staff, and visitors to feel comfortable in the ambiances of cleanness and neatness.

Notwithstanding, Confer Cleaners should improve on other areas of the hospital—Medical College and School of Nursing hostels, among other places that need to be clean and kept neat.

The challenges faced by Confer Cleaners Limited are basically the lack of adequate incinerators within the hospital surroundings. “We are in dear need of incinerators to aid in our cleaning businesses; dirt and refuse are dumped and burnt,” said one cleaner.

UMTH: Keeping The Surroundings Clean and Neat, Contact Cleaners At Work

Zulum Disburses ₦2bn Starter Packs to 2,970 Trained Borno Youths in Massive Empowerment Drive

By: Michael Mike

Governor Babagana Zulum on Tuesday rolled out a ₦2.05 billion empowerment package for 2,970 young people trained in vocational skills across Borno State, marking a major push in the state’s transition from humanitarian recovery to economic rebuilding after more than a decade of insurgency.

The beneficiaries, who graduated from nine modern vocational enterprise institutes and centres established by the Zulum administration, received comprehensive starter packs and business kits designed to enable immediate take-off of small and medium-scale enterprises.

The ceremony, held at the Muna Vocational Enterprises Institute in Maiduguri, drew senior government officials, lawmakers and technical education stakeholders, underscoring the scale and strategic importance of the intervention.

Addressing the gathering, Zulum described youth empowerment as a cardinal pillar of his administration, particularly in a state where insurgency disrupted livelihoods, deepened unemployment and left thousands of young people vulnerable.

He said the government deliberately prioritised skills acquisition and entrepreneurship as sustainable pathways to restore dignity and rebuild productive capacity.

“We remain mindful of the devastating effects of insurgency on our communities,” Zulum stated. “It became imperative for government to implement sustainable interventions aimed at restoring dignity, creating opportunities and rebuilding productive capacity among our people.”

The governor noted that since 2019, his administration has established five major vocational enterprise institutes in Muna, Mafa, Biu, Shani and Magumeri, reactivated nine vocational training centres, and set up three Second Chance Skills Entrepreneurship Schools targeted at women and girls.

He disclosed that over ₦40 billion has been invested in building, rehabilitating and equipping vocational institutes, training centres and technical colleges across the state. According to him, the investment aligns with a broader Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) strategy aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school youths, promoting self-reliance and creating a skilled workforce capable of contributing to the state and national economy.

The graduates were trained in high-demand sectors such as information technology, construction, plumbing, tailoring, welding and other artisan trades, reflecting the state’s intention to match training with market realities.

Earlier, Commissioner for Education, Engr. Lawan Abba Wakilbe, said the initiative was a direct product of Governor Zulum’s vision to empower conflict-affected youths with practical, employable and entrepreneurial skills.

He explained that the programme was conceived as part of a broader social and economic rebuilding agenda to support vulnerable groups, particularly young people and women whose lives were disrupted by years of insecurity.

The event was attended by the Executive Secretary of the National Board for Technical Education, Professor Idris Bugaje; Senators Mohammed Tahir Monguno, Mohammed Ali Ndume and Kaka Shehu Lawan; Secretary to the Borno State Government, Bukar Tijani; Acting Chief of Staff, Babagana Mallumbe, among other dignitaries.

With the distribution of the ₦2 billion starter packs, the Borno State Government signalled a deliberate shift from short-term relief interventions to long-term economic empowerment, positioning youth entrepreneurship as a central driver of stability, growth and lasting peace in the state.

Zulum Disburses ₦2bn Starter Packs to 2,970 Trained Borno Youths in Massive Empowerment Drive