Pecohub The University of Abuja has been selected as one of six universities to benefit from the 2026 Special Intervention for Health Professions (SHIP) programme, a joint initiative by the Federal Ministry of Education (FMOE) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
This grant followed a successful application and bid by the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Titus Ibekwe, on behalf of the Health Sciences and the University.
To this end, the University will receive N4 billion to support infrastructure and equipment expansion in its health-related faculties.
The 2026 SHIP funding is intended for MBBS, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, with the goal of increasing infrastructure and student quotas and strengthening the capacity of health sciences education in the country.
The selection followed 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.
Other universities selected for the 2026 SHIP funding include Bayero University, Kano (North West); Modibbo Adama University, Yola (North East); Rivers State University, Port Harcourt (South South); Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (South West); and Abia State University (South East).
Upon receiving the good news, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIABUJA, Professor Hakeem 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 enhance the University’s capacity to provide quality training for health professionals and contribute significantly to national development.
According to him, the N4 billion intervention would be strategically deployed to upgrade critical infrastructure, procure state-of-the-art medical equipment, and improve teaching and learning facilities across the University’s health-related programmes. He noted that the funding would also address long-standing gaps in laboratory capacity, clinical training spaces, and student accommodation, all of which are required to meet accreditation and expansion demands.
Professor Fawehinmi further stated that the SHIP intervention aligns with the Federal Government’s broader agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and reduce the country’s reliance on foreign-trained health professionals. He emphasised that by expanding student intake and improving training quality, the University of Abuja would make a meaningful contribution to addressing manpower shortages in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing.
