By Muazu Hardawa, Bauchi
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has commissioned the Clinical Trial Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH), Bauchi, reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening health research, innovation and evidence-based healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The commissioning formed part of the minister’s official visit to the hospital, during which he also flagged off the Federal Government’s distribution of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care equipment, commodities and delivery kits, and inspected ongoing infrastructure projects at the facility.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Professor Yusuf Bara Jibrin, described the Clinical Trial Centre as a significant milestone in the hospital’s drive to advance medical research and improve healthcare outcomes through ethical, high-quality clinical trials that meet international standards.
He said the centre would facilitate research on vaccines, medicines, diagnostics and other health interventions, while also serving as a hub for training healthcare professionals, promoting scientific collaboration and generating local evidence to address Nigeria’s priority health challenges.
Professor Jibrin expressed appreciation to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (MRC Unit The Gambia at LSHTM), for their technical support and partnership, which he said were instrumental in establishing the facility.
He also commended the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for prioritising investments in research, innovation and the strengthening of Nigeria’s healthcare system.
According to him, the Clinical Trial Centre will position ATBUTH as a leading hub for clinical research, capacity building and collaboration with national and international partners, ultimately contributing to improved patient care and better health outcomes.
The hospital’s management reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the facility as a centre of excellence dedicated to groundbreaking research, innovation and the advancement of healthcare in line with ATBUTH’s core mandate of service delivery, training and research.
