Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, has approved the immediate employment of 88 scholarship-sponsored medical graduates, who will serve a mandatory six-year bond with the state government to address critical manpower gaps in the health sector.
The announcement was made during the induction ceremony for 88 community nurses from the College of Nursing, held at the conference hall of the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of the Borno State Hospital Management Board, Professor Abubakar Kullima, praised Governor Zulum’s deliberate investment in human resources for health.
“When His Excellency asked about our major challenges, I told him it was human resources for health—the staff who run our hospitals. He promised to assist, and today we are witnessing the fulfilment of that commitment,” Kullima said.
He emphasised the significance of the opportunity for the appointees. “This is a very big opportunity for the new appointees. They were given scholarships by His Excellency, and they must understand they are being sent to serve their communities,” he added, noting that the graduates have received the necessary training and skills for community deployment.
Kullima further noted that the health sector is among the biggest beneficiaries of Zulum’s reforms. “We are one of the luckiest agencies. Beyond massive infrastructure, His Excellency has strengthened the three most critical components of health care: infrastructure, human resources, and equipment.”
“Where we stand today is a dialysis centre fully supported by the governor, who also provides consumables to patients free of charge. His impact has been tremendous,” he highlighted.
The Chairman of the Borno State Hospital Management Board, Dr Joseph A. Jatau, also commended Governor Zulum’s continued support and urged the new graduates to be dedicated to their roles.
“My advice to the graduates is simple: dedication to duty. They should see this as a special privilege given to them by His Excellency. When they get to their communities, they must serve the people well. Their names have already been forwarded to community leaders,” Jatau said.
He described the mass induction of qualified nurses as a long-desired milestone. “What happened today is a dream come true. We did not expect to receive such a large number of qualified nurses at once, but His Excellency’s commitment made it possible,” he concluded.
Governor Zulum’s administration continues to invest in strengthening Borno’s health workforce, upgrading health facilities, and expanding access to quality care across the state.
