Federal Government has approved renaming of Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki to Alex Ekwueme University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki.

Former Vice President Ekwueme died in November 2017. He was in office between 1979 and 1983.

Mr Ahmed Ramalan, chairman of the hospital’s board, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abakaliki while addressing journalists.

He said the renaming was with immediate effect.

Ramalan said Mr Isaac Adewole, Minister of Health, gave the approval on behalf of the government as it is important to bring the action to the notice of the people of Ebonyi and Nigerians.

“We hope that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will unveil the hospital’s new logo when he visits before the May 29 swearing-in of elected leaders in the country.

“This is a big achievement in the next level mantra of the present administration and it is hoped that the renaming will make the hospital attain greater heights,” he said.

He said the request for the renaming was made by the University and Federal Ministry of Health graciously approved it.

“The university requested to have FETHA as its teaching hospital as the development will bring lots of benefits to it.

“It will receive funding of infrastructural development from Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and manpower capacity building of staff from the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF),” he said.

Ramalan said the board had a successful year in the saddle have been inaugurated in March 2018.

Mr Emeka Ogah, Chief Medical Director of the hospital, noted that the renaming has elevated the hospital to a teaching hospital status.

“We are presently more equipped to execute our core mandate,” he said.

The hospital was hitherto known as Federal Medical Centre Abakaliki, before metamorphosing into FETHA after the federal government’s takeover.

NAN