Saraki: New Benue Varsity May Be Named After David Mark

Senate President Bukola Saraki has suggested that the proposed Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State be named after his predecessor, Senator David Mark.

Saraki said this at the public hearing on the Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo held in Abuja on Monday.

The Senate President, who was represented by Chief Whip, Senator Sola Adeyeye, said there had been calls for naming the yet-to-be-established institution after Mark.

Senator Mark, who is from Otukpo had recently sponsored a bill establishing the institution.

Saraki said: “I must also thank the esteemed sponsor of the bill, my predecessor and former President of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator David Mark, for his vision and steadfastness. He has spared no effort in promoting the bill and canvassing for the establishment of FUHSO.

“His focus on this goal is, no doubt, a measure of his commitment to alleviating the huge shortfall in the education and training of critical personnel in the nation’s health sector – and to the people of Benue-South, who the distinguished senator represents.

“Indeed, I understand there is now a clamour in some quarters, as well as among some of my distinguished colleagues, to rename the university, upon its establishment, after Senator Mark – and the reason is understandable, when we consider the passion with which he has prosecuted the cause of the proposed institution.”

The Senate President explained that the establishment of the university will help address admission deficit of medical students in the country.

“Figures show that only about 20 per cent of those who qualify and apply are admitted to medical schools in this country. In July of this year, a newspaper survey indicated that, of nearly 160,000 applicants, only 3000 gain admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions to study Medicine and related courses,” he added.