Dr. Bakari Girei Hails TETFund-Backed Centre of Excellence in Yola for Separating Conjoined Twins

By Emmanuel Kwada

‎Dr. Salihu Bakari Girei, Director of Research and Development/Centres of Excellence at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), has lavished praise on the medical team at Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital (MAUTH), Yola, for their successful separation of conjoined twins.

‎The commendation comes amid growing momentum for his widely discussed governorship ambition in Adamawa State ahead of the 2027 elections.

‎Representing TETFund Executive Secretary Mr. Sonny Echono, Dr. Girei visited the hospital on Monday to inspect ongoing TETFund-funded projects, including the Paediatrics Centre of Excellence.

‎He witnessed aspects of the complex, life-saving surgery and described the achievement as a shining example of what strategic federal investment in local healthcare can accomplish.

‎Speaking to journalists shortly after the procedure, Dr. Girei highlighted TETFund’s substantial support for the centre.

‎”TETFund has 30 Centres of Excellence nationwide, and I am the Director in charge of those centres. Modibbo Adama University Teaching Hospital has one, the Centre of Excellence on Paediatrics, which we are funding,” he stated.

‎He revealed that TETFund initially invested about $3 billion (approximately ₦4.5 billion at current rates) to establish and equip the centre, with an additional $500 million released this year specifically for research and impactful projects.

‎Dr. Girei announced plans for further funding of not less than $1 billion, citing the centre’s outstanding performance in recent assessments as one of the best among TETFund-supported facilities.

‎The surgery, which marked the hospital’s sixth successful separation of conjoined twins, was performed free of charge for the family—demonstrating the centre’s commitment to accessible, world-class care.

‎”I’m very pleased that this has been done without paying a dime, and it’s successful,” Dr. Girei said. “This is exactly why the Centres of Excellence were established—so ordinary citizens can have access to world-class medical attention without traveling abroad.”

‎He emphasized that such interventions aim to restore public confidence in Nigeria’s health system, reduce medical tourism, and position facilities like MAUTH to serve not only Adamawa and the Northeast but the entire country and West African sub-region.

‎”We aim to restore hope to the hopeless,” he added, praising the parents’ resilience and the hospital’s management, led by Chief Medical Director Prof. Adamu Girei Bakari, for their professionalism and ownership mindset toward the facility.

‎Dr. Girei’s high-profile visit and enthusiastic endorsement of the TETFund-backed success have been viewed by observers as a strategic showcase of his leadership in driving national development initiatives—qualities supporters argue position him strongly for higher office.

‎His governorship aspiration under the All Progressives Congress (APC) has gained significant traction, with endorsements from groups like the Nigeria Indigenous Languages Development Council (NILDC) Adamawa chapter and widespread calls for him to contest in 2027 to bring transformative governance to the state.

‎The milestone at MAUTH underscores TETFund’s role in bolstering specialized healthcare and research in public tertiary institutions, while spotlighting Dr. Girei’s hands-on involvement in delivering tangible benefits to ordinary Nigerians—further fueling discussions about his potential as a future leader for Adamawa.