In a significant move to bolster tertiary healthcare and medical education, the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Nasarawa State Government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to convert the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH) in Lafia into the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital. The agreement, formalized in Abuja, is part of the federal government’s broader strategy to enhance healthcare delivery and expand medical training infrastructure across the country.
This development follows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in August 2024 for the federal takeover and conversion of DASH into a teaching hospital, responding to a request from the Nasarawa State Government. The transformation aims to improve the training of medical and allied health students and to elevate the standard of healthcare services in the region.
The Nasarawa State House of Assembly had earlier endorsed the ceding of DASH to the federal government, recognizing the potential benefits of such an upgrade. The hospital’s existing facilities, including a main hospital complex, a School of Nursing and Midwifery, and a Cancer Screening Centre, provide a solid foundation for its new role as a teaching hospital.
In March 2025, Dr. Ikrama Hassan was appointed as the Chief Medical Director of the newly established Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital. His appointment is expected to steer the institution towards achieving its goals of providing quality healthcare and fostering medical education in the region .
The establishment of the Federal University of Lafia Teaching Hospital marks a pivotal step in addressing healthcare challenges and underscores the government’s commitment to improving medical education and services in Nigeria.
