FUAHSE VC forward-thinking, deserves support - Sen. Chukwu

The Senator Representing Enugu East Senatorial District, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, has described the Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu, FUAHSE, Prof John Emaimo, as a forward-thinking administrator who deserves all the support to help him and the institution succeed in its healthcare manpower training transformation.

Prof. Emaimo was appointed as the Rector of former Federal School of Dental Technology & Therapy in 2016. He came in and shortly after converted the school from a monotechnic to a college offering seven specialist courses with degree affiliation to the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, and in 2024 the institution was transformed into a full-fledged University of Allied Health Sciences, presently offering 16 specialist Healthcare courses.

Senator Chukwu lauded the transformation of the University, describing the upgrade as a landmark stride in advancing healthcare education and research in Nigeria.

He made the applaud, on Monday, when he visited the university located in his constituency.

Chukwu praised the Vice Chancellor’s vision, assuring that he would leverage his position in the National Assembly to attract federal support and partnerships that would strengthen the university’s infrastructure, research, and capacity.

"Institutions with forward-thinking leadership, such as Prof. Emaimo, deserve every form of support to scale up their ambitions," Chukwu lauded.

The Senator expressed delight at the elevation and transformation of the institution, noting that the development marks a new dawn in healthcare manpower training. He commended the leadership of Prof. Emaimo for steering the institution through a period of significant change and pledged his continuous support in ensuring the university meets the required standards.

The Senator emphasized that education must now move beyond the classroom into practical impact, stressing that institutions such as FUAHSE should pioneer solutions to Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, while creating opportunities for young people. He assured the management of his commitment to facilitate collaborations and partnerships for the institution.

In his remarks, Prof. Emaimo outlined a bold vision for the institution, stressing that the focus is to redesign allied health programs in a way that produces self-reliant graduates.

According to Emaimo, “what we have in mind is to restructure our direction so that people who graduate from this university will not be looking for jobs but will be equipped to create opportunities for themselves.”

The Vice Chancellor further disclosed that the university is developing an innovative academic model where students will graduate with both a Bachelor’s degree in their field of specialization and a professional diploma in entrepreneurship. He explained that this dual qualification will set the institution apart by merging clinical competence with entrepreneurial skills.

“This system will empower our graduates not only with professional knowledge but also with the business acumen to establish and manage successful ventures in the health sector. The ultimate goal is to make them employers of labour rather than job seekers. We are building a new generation of healthcare professionals who will shape the nation’s future,” Emaimo said.