President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned a state-of-the-art Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology Centre at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) in Bauchi State. The facility aims to strengthen reproductive healthcare and address infertility challenges in Nigeria, particularly in the North-East region.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony held on Friday at the centre, President Tinubu described the facility as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of advanced medical innovation and improved reproductive health services. Represented by the Chief Medical Director of ATBUTH, Prof. Yusuf Bara Jibrin, the President highlighted some of the centre’s cutting-edge technologies, including the Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) system — a rare and highly advanced technology in Nigeria. According to him, the system uses automated imaging and software to analyse sperm concentration, motility, and morphology within minutes, thereby reducing errors associated with manual analysis.
He further disclosed that the centre is equipped with an Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) workstation, which enables specialists to inject a single sperm directly into an egg in cases of severe male infertility, significantly improving fertilisation success rates. Tinubu added that the facility also supports embryo screening for genetic conditions such as sickle cell disease, helping to ensure healthier pregnancies and improved family outcomes.
“This centre represents hope, innovation, and our commitment to delivering world-class healthcare services to Nigerians,” he said.
State Government Commends Federal Government
The Bauchi State Commissioner for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Sani Mohammed Dambam, commended the Federal Government for establishing the centre, describing it as a major boost to healthcare delivery in Bauchi State and across the country. He noted that the facility houses some of the latest technologies in reproductive medicine and praised the management of the hospital for what he described as a visionary achievement.
“These innovations will greatly improve healthcare delivery and the wellbeing of the people,” he said, adding that the project aligns with the health sector priorities of Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed.
Centre Director Highlights Infertility as Growing Concern
Also speaking, the Director of the Centre, Prof. Sa’idu Kadas, described infertility as a growing public health concern, especially in developing countries where infections and other medical conditions contribute significantly to its prevalence. He revealed that hospital records indicate a high rate of infertility-related cases among patients attending gynaecology clinics.
“From clinical experience, out of every ten patients in the gynaecology clinic, about six present with infertility concerns,” he explained. Prof. Kadas said the centre offers renewed hope to couples struggling with conception, assuring them that solutions are now more accessible. “Many families who had lost hope now have a real chance of achieving parenthood,” he added.
Biomedical Engineer Praises World-Class Equipment
Biomedical Engineer Babangida Salihu also described the equipment installed at the centre as world-class, noting that many of the technologies were previously only encountered in textbooks and training manuals. “As engineers, we studied these technologies theoretically. Today, we are seeing them fully installed and operational here in ATBUTH,” he said.
Primary Health Care Board Chairman Emphasises Hope and Affordability
The Chairman of the Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed, described the centre as a landmark achievement that would restore hope to thousands of families battling infertility in Bauchi State, the North-East, and Nigeria at large. He observed that before the establishment of the facility, many patients from Northern Nigeria had to travel to Abuja and other places for fertility treatment, incurring huge financial and emotional costs.
“This is a welcome development for Bauchi State and the entire region. Many women are silently suffering from infertility, but today there is hope,” he said. Dr. Rilwanu stressed the importance of preventive maintenance in sustaining modern medical equipment and called for continuous support to ensure the centre’s long-term functionality. He also urged the media to intensify awareness campaigns so that families in need can access the services provided by the facility.
He further appealed to the management to ensure that treatment costs remain affordable, noting that the high cost of assisted reproductive procedures often worsens the burden faced by affected families. “I urge the management to ensure the services remain within the reach of ordinary people, as infertility has become a major social challenge affecting many marriages,” he stated.
He also commended President Tinubu and the Federal Government for sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure across tertiary institutions, noting improved commitment at both federal and state levels.
Chief Medical Director Assures Sustainability
Speaking on behalf of the management and staff of ATBUTH, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Yusuf Jibrin Bara, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and development partners for supporting the project. He explained that infertility is not only a medical issue but also a major psychological burden, in line with the World Health Organisation’s definition of health as complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing.
According to him, infertility cases are on the rise, while many couples previously lacked access to local treatment and were forced to travel long distances, including outside Nigeria to countries such as Niger and Cameroon. He said the centre was established in response to local and regional healthcare challenges identified by the hospital management in order to provide practical solutions and renewed hope to affected families.
On sustainability, Prof. Bara explained that maintenance, training, and retraining were incorporated into the project from the outset, with staff and biomedical engineers adequately trained and linked directly to equipment manufacturers for technical support and spare parts supply. He assured that the facility would be properly maintained and continuously utilised for the benefit of patients and society.
