Overview and History of Federal University of Health Science, Otukpo, Benue State

 
The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (commonly abbreviated as FUHSO) stands as a beacon of specialised tertiary education in the health sciences in Nigeria. Nestled in Otukpo, a key town in Benue State, the institution was created with the vision of cultivating the next generation of health care providers, researchers, and innovators who will contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s evolving healthcare sector and beyond. With the global demands on healthcare systems increasing and the need for more highly trained professionals becoming urgent in Nigeria and across Africa, a purpose-built university such as FUHSO emerges as a timely and strategic intervention. At its core, FUHSO is not just another general university; it has a specialised mandate to focus on health sciences—medical, biomedical, nursing, public health, laboratory sciences and allied fields—which distinguishes it from more traditional universities with broad academic portfolios. This allows for more targeted investment in laboratories, clinical training, research infrastructure, and partnerships geared towards healthcare delivery, community health interventions and innovations in diagnostics and treatment. It means students and faculty operate in an environment that understands the urgency and complexity of health issues in Nigeria, from communicable diseases and maternal-child health to noncommunicable diseases, health systems strengthening and global health security challenges.

Furthermore, its location in Otukpo and Benue State adds an important regional dimension: opening up opportunities for students from the Middle Belt region and providing local communities with access to higher education, research and improved health services. In this way the institution serves both national and regional goals—training professionals who will serve across Nigeria, and simultaneously helping uplift the surrounding communities through research, outreach and health-service linkage. In this blog post I will walk you through key aspects of FUHSO: its official website, motto, founding, history, leadership, accreditation & recognition, academic structure & facilities, campus life, and notable alumni.

##Official website
The official website of the university is https://www.fuhso.edu.ng/This online portal is the gateway for prospective students, current students and stakeholders alike. On the site you’ll find information about programmes and admission, news updates, administrative announcements, research activities, and contact details. Whether you are checking for admission requirements, departmental information, or latest accredited programmes, the website provides an official point of reference.

##Motto
The motto of FUHSO is “Knowledge for Health”. 

The phrase succinctly encapsulates the university’s mission: knowledge (through rigorous academic training and research) harnessed towards health (improving health outcomes, building health systems, developing professionals who serve). The motto emphasises that learning is not an end in itself, but a means toward improving lives, communities, and the broader health landscape.

##Founder
The founder of FUHSO is the Federal Government of Nigeria, acting under the authority of the then-President Goodluck Jonathan when the university was first approved on 20 May 2015. 

While Jonathan’s administration approved the creation of the university, the initiative reflects a broader federal policy direction toward expanding tertiary education, especially specialist institutions in underserved regions of the country. Therefore, FUHSO is a federal government-owned public university, anchored in national policy for health sciences education.

##History
The history of FUHSO is both recent and reflective of Nigeria’s evolving higher education landscape. The university’s founding date is 20 May 2015, when the Federal Government approved its establishment as one of several new federal universities. However, the initial phase of the university faced delays and interruptions: after its approval, operations were suspended, pending adequate human and material resources. Specifically, the incoming administration under President Muhammadu Buhari reviewed and held back full operationalisation for a period. 

On 6 June 2019, the decision to restore the university was taken, allowing the institution to move forward. 

By 12 May 2020, principal officers and the university’s Governing Council were appointed, marking the formal administrative establishment of the institution. 

Academic activities commenced in a temporary site (the Youth Centre, Otada-Otukpo) while the permanent campus was being developed. 

In July 2022, a groundbreaking ceremony for the permanent campus at Akwete-Akpa, Otukpo LGA, was undertaken and the federal TETFund approved a significant infrastructural intervention (N3 billion High Impact Intervention Fund) to support the development.

From the outset, the university adopted a specialised academic blueprint: its early approved programmes included Medicine & Surgery, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biostatistics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology and Computer Science, according to its About page. 

Thus, although the university is relatively young, it has had to navigate the challenges of establishment, infrastructure, faculty recruitment and accreditation. Its history underscores both its promise and the real-world constraints of building a specialist institution in Nigeria’s higher education system.

##Chancellor
The current Chancellor of FUHSO is Professor Francis Aba Uba, who was appointed as the substantive Vice-Chancellor in May 2025. 

Brief biography
Professor Francis Aba Uba is a distinguished Nigerian academic and paediatric surgeon of high repute. Prior to his appointment at FUHSO, he was affiliated with the University of Jos in Plateau State, where he built a strong academic and clinical career. His expertise lies in paediatric and neonatal surgery, with a research profile including numerous peer-reviewed publications (over 80 at time of appointment) and significant citations. 

Originating from Ohimini Local Government Area of Benue State, Uba brings both regional connection and national academic experience to the leadership of FUHSO. His appointment reflects the institution’s desire for strong clinical-academic leadership as the university matures and expands. As Vice-Chancellor, he has signalled commitment to infrastructure development, staff welfare, enhanced accreditation and overall institutional growth. 

Note: Technically the role of “Chancellor” is often ceremonial in Nigerian universities and the chief executive is the Vice-Chancellor. Here I have used the Vice-Chancellor’s profile since that is the active leadership role.)

##Accreditation and Recognition
Accreditation is a crucial factor for students and stakeholders, and FUHSO has made notable strides in this area. According to official records:

The National Universities Commission (NUC) conducted resource verification and accreditation visits to FUHSO. For example, the programme in Medicine & Surgery was awarded Full accreditation on 2 March 2025 with a score of 90.08 %. 

Similarly, the Biochemistry programme achieved full accreditation status, with a score of 82.64 % on 5 March 2025. 

In September 2025, FUHSO announced that NUC had granted full approval for four new academic programmes—Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D), Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS), Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) and Bachelor of Science in Public Health & Epidemiology. 

The university has also established an accreditation committee to drive compliance and continuous improvement. 

These developments indicate that FUHSO is actively engaging with the accreditation process, attaining recognition for its programmes, and expanding its academic offerings in line with regulatory requirements. For prospective students, this bodes well in terms of credibility and institutional legitimacy.


##Academic Structure and Facilities
FUHSO is structured to support its health-science mandate with specialised faculties, departments, and modern facilities. Key aspects include:

Specialist Faculties and Programmes: The university began with a defined set of health-science and related programmes (Medicine & Surgery, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Biostatistics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Computer Science) and is now expanding into Pharmacy, Nursing Science, Public Health & Epidemiology. 

Clinical and Laboratory Training: As a health-specialised institution, FUHSO emphasizes laboratories, teaching hospital linkages, and clinical training—vital for medical, biomedical and allied programmes. The course list and programme descriptions confirm facilities such as medical labs and teaching hospitals. 

Digital Library and Research Infrastructure: The university offers a digital library and research centre, supporting students and faculty with journals, e-resources, and scholarly output. 

Hostel and Student Accommodation: The facilities list includes student hostels (residential accommodation) and dining/cafeteria services, thereby supporting residential campus life. 

Lecture Theatres, Lecture Halls and Campus Buildings: Infrastructure development (administrative building, Senate chamber, departmental buildings, science buildings) has been underway including the permanent campus site at Akwete-Akpa. 

Sports and Recreation Facilities: The university makes provision for student welfare through recreational and sports facilities, allowing balance between academic rigour and physical well-being. 

Permanent Campus Development & Funding: Significant intervention by TETFund (N3 billion High Impact Intervention) and site development at Akwete-Akpa reflect the institution’s commitment to build a permanent modern campus. 

Together, these elements demonstrate a comprehensive academic infrastructure aimed at supporting health sciences education—from theoretical teaching to laboratory and clinical application.

##Campus Life and Facilities
Life at FUHSO offers students an environment geared toward intensive study, research work and community engagement, while also ensuring residential comfort and relative regional tranquillity. Located in Otukpo, Benue State, the campus is situated in a region that allows focus on health sciences programmes, community outreach and regional development. The temporary site is at Otada-Otukpo, with plans ongoing for the permanent site at Akwete-Akpa. 

Residential hostels, cafeterias and recreation infrastructure are present to support students’ welfare. 

On-campus and nearby student services include digital library access, laboratories, and sports facilities. The university also emphasizes community immersion, given its health-sciences focus. For example, students in public health, nursing and laboratory sciences likely participate in outreach or fieldwork in surrounding local government areas. Students are part of the growth phase of the institution—meaning they may enjoy opportunities to shape programmes, labs and student life culture in a young institution. Additionally, being in a less congested region compared to major urban campuses may offer lower distractions and more focus. That said, as a newer institution some facilities may still be in development, so incoming students should prepare accordingly (e.g., anticipate phased completion of certain infrastructure). It’s a campus life characterised by purpose, study, health-science orientation and community connection.