The Federal Government has approved Federal Medical Centre Keffi as the designated teaching hospital for Nasarawa State University, Keffi, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Nasarawa State Government and the university at the Conference Hall of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja on Tuesday.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, presided over the signing ceremony. The Director of Health Services and the Director of Legal Services of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare signed on behalf of the federal government, while the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Education, John Mamman, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Sa'adatu Hassan Liman, and the Registrar, Dr. Bala Ahmed, signed for the state government and the university.

The agreement clears the path for Nasarawa State University to admit its first batch of medical students into the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme in September 2026, with the university's Nursing programme also expected to commence in the near future.

Professor Liman described the development as "a dream come true," assuring the ministry of the university's commitment to ensuring the effective utilisation of the facility for quality teaching, research and healthcare delivery.

Mamman noted that converting Federal Medical Centre Keffi into a teaching hospital would complement Governor Abdullahi Sule's efforts to improve education, healthcare, agriculture and industrial development across the state, while strengthening the state's human capital development agenda and expanding practical training opportunities for future healthcare professionals.

Both Mamman and Professor Liman described the agreement as the beginning of a new chapter for the university and expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for the partnership.

The approval is expected to strengthen collaboration between Nasarawa State University and Federal Medical Centre Keffi, expand access to quality medical training and contribute to addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals in Nasarawa State and across Nigeria.