The Second Year Anniversary Lecture Ceremony of the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo, FUHSO, was the talk of the town in recent times even as the memory still lingers. The anniversary means many things to different people, particularly, the host communities while to FUHSO, it’s a monumental ceremony akin to the great exodus. The event’s exhilaration was greeted with permutations, admiration, enthusiasm, and expectations. The occasion, held at the take-off campus in Otada, Otukpo LGA of Benue State received accolades from reputable leaders, personalities, and institutions from within and outside Nigeria as the first established Federal University of Health Sciences in the history of the nation. Prior to the D-Day, the unparalleled Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Innocent A.O. Ujah, mni, was visibly everywhere with the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council, Prof. Abdullahi Abba, as well as Management and Council members, putting finishing touches to the orchestrations. Addressing journalists during a press conference at the Council Chamber of the University, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Ujah who appreciated the press, averred that FUHSO’s proud to celebrate considering her tall achievements in just two years. According to the release, crescent: ‘‘Impossibility Made Possible by the Grace of God’’ Being a two-year report card summary of the first Vice-Chancellor of the first University in Benue South Senatorial District. FUHSO, as the first Specialized Health University, established on 20th May, 2015 by the Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of the then President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR, was suspended by President Muhammadu Buhari who later restored the University on June 6, 2019; meanwhile, Principal Officers and Council members of the University were appointed on 12th May, 2020. Prof Ujah contended that in the beginning, FUHSO embarked on a study tour to the first Medical University in Nigeria and other modern Medical Colleges; this, he affirmed transfigured into the maiden 9 approved programmes for the University - Medicine and Surgery, Computer Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biostatics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology by the National Universities Commission, NUC; enlisted on the JAMB portal and fully integrated into its Central Admission Processing System, CAPS. According to the University Boss, Chemistry, Biology/Microbiology, and Chemistry/Biochemistry laboratories were fully equipped, stressing that lectures commenced on Nov. 8, 2021, and the academic Session was successfully completed. He noted that recruitment and development of management, academic and non-academic staff were seamlessly carried out. The Vice-Chancellor further stated that through tetfund, the University’s strengthening Staff Development Policy, positing that arrangements were concluded to send young lecturers for further training. The doyen of medical profession who doubles as president of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, the first to be so honoured in the history of Nigeria, extolled tetfund for infrastructures such as office spaces, lecture rooms, and theatres; laboratories, furniture, and facilities for co-curricular activities noting that designating FUHSO as Centre of Excellence for Infectious Diseases for the study of Ebola, Covid-19, Monkey Pox, Lassa Fever and other emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases; construction of multi-purpose research complex and the three billion naira (#3billion) tetfund High Impact Intervention fund has added more value to the University. The University Chief Executive Officer, expounded that the University was partnering with other institutions within and abroad, including Emory University, Atlanta, and Northwestern University, Chicago all in USA and expressed satisfaction with the committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities’ Secretariat which it’s developing a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, on Medical Mobility Programme, MMP, with selected Universities in Egypt. He detailed that when signed, it will pave way for the training of staff in Basic Medical Sciences of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, strategically focusing on her MMBS staff in compliance with the policy of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, as well as developing new approaches to Medical Education Curriculum, MEC, and assured that the take-off campus in Otada would remain as a Remedial Studies Centre when the University is eventually relocated to its permanent site at Akwete-Akpa. The obstetrician and Gyneacology Professor, informed that the maiden students of about 200 had completed the first Session and are currently on vacation and commended President Buhari, GCFR, for the approval of the fund and promised prudent utilization. He appreciated the state Governor, Dr. Samuel Ortom for ceding the General Hospital Otukpo, as take-off site for training clinical students and providing specialist medical treatment and health research. The Vice-Chancellor thanked President Buhari, GCFR, and his predecessor, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR; quondam President of the Senate, – Dr. David Mark, GCON; Governor of Benue State – Dr. Samuel Ortom; Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mister Boss Mustapha; Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Education - Mallam Adamu Adamu; Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Health - Dr. Osagie Ehinare; former Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education now Executive Secretary of TetFund - Arc. Sonny Echono, fnia; Executive Secretary, NUC - Prof Abubakar Rasheed, mni - Pro-chancellor and chairman of Council - Prof Abdullahi Abba and Council members; Prof Ochapa Onazi OON and members Apa Education Foundation, AEF; Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of JAMB - Prof Ishaq Oloyede; erstwhile Executive Secretary of Tetfund - Prof Elias Bogoro; Senator representing Benue South Senatorial District - Dist. Sen. Abba Moro; former Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development – Chief Audu Ogbe and other stakeholders for their roles in the establishment of FUHSO. He applauded the cordial relationship between FUHSO and the host communities of Otada, Akwete-Akpa, and Benue South Senatorial District and urged for sustainability. He hailed Council members, management, staff, and students for their commitment to building a world-class University. Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom, who congratulated the Vice-Chancellor and the University community for the anniversary and impressive performance, assured of the state government’s support to the University to excel, stating that it was for that reason that the state government did not hesitate to donate its general hospital, Otukpo, to the institution. Represented by the Honourable Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Hon Michael Inalegwu, the governor reaffirmed his commitment to the security of life and property of the people until the last day of his administration. Chairman of the occasion and former Vice-Chancellor of Uni-Jos, Prof. Ochapa Onazi while appreciating guests, said the labour of the heroes of the University was not in vain. The Chairman of Apa Education Foundation called on sundry not to rest in their oars but to continue to support the citadel of learning to attain a world-class status. Quondam President of the Senate, Dist. Sen. David Mark, thanked FG for the establishment of the University in Idoma land, saying that it has added value to the education, employment and economy of the senatorial district and the state in general. Represented by Senator Moro, the initiator of the doctrine of necessity, applauded FUHSO at two, describing it as encouraging. On his part, Senator Moro who hailed the VC and the University at two, pledged to aid and lobby his colleagues to influence the necessary infrastructures to the premier University. Guest lecturer, Arc. Sonny Silva Togo Echono, on ‘‘THE ROLE OF EDUCATION AND HEALTHCARE IN ECONOMIC EMANCIPATION’’, the tetfund Executive Secretary posited that education is a powerful arsenal that builds and equips individuals with necessary knowledge and skills which in turn qualifies them to earn a legitimate income. To achieve this, Arc Echono averred that a commensurate level of good health is required for individuals to be able to perform tasks and become productive. The guest speaker who held his listeners glued to their seats, held that the existence of inequalities at a global level and at the sub-national levels, especially in Benue State, engendered underdevelopment which in turn birthed conflicts. He, therefore, submitted that until the aforementioned variations are addressed, economic emancipation will remain a mirage. The erstwhile Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, FME, traced the socio-economic inequalities in Nigeria and Benue South in particular to the theory of Dialectical Materialism enunciated by Karl Marx’s Communist Manifesto which underscored the unequal relations that existed between industrialized and third world nations. He maintained that the way out of the quagmire is a deliberate effort by government, corporate bodies, and spirited individuals to bring up a pragmatic program that emphasizes human capital development, a pre-requisite to nation building and development. Arch. Echono detailed that, to leverage education and health to emancipate the people of Benue state, poverty must first be crushed. The fastest route is through concerted efforts to modernize and improve the agricultural sector which engages nearly 70% of the population. He, therefore, urged the appropriate authorities to use revenue accruing through taxes to develop education and healthcare. The TEtfund boss propounded that, deliberate efforts must be made to mobilize the people to embrace education as the key to their emancipation, adding that institutions of learning must therefore be upgraded to ensure that qualified and committed teachers are engaged and deployed to these institutions to lay firm foundations for rapid growth and advancement of the society. He opined that the people must take advantage of the many educational and health institutions situated in Benue State, not only as places of employment, but more importantly as opportunities for developing needed human capital for the state and the country at large. The physical infrastructure that is provided in the institutions for individuals and businesses will create jobs, foster improvements in living conditions and livelihoods resulting in the overall development of our communities, he added. As a people, the guest speaker avowed that people should play their part as therein lies our salvation by paying attention to programs that improve the lives of the people, aimed at eradicating poverty, promoting employment, and providing opportunities. These he professed shall aid rural and agricultural development so that the population is well fed on good nutrition and healthy habits. Arc Echono concluded that he would want to see Otukpo and its environs develop as a medical hub in our country and also to play host to dignitaries from within and outside the country in search of Medicare which FUHSO is adequately positioned to fill. Information, Publication and Public Relations, IPPR, Unit, FUHSO Friday, July 15, 2022.