Mbagen College of Health Technology: How it started & developed

Mbagen Health Care Services established the Mbagen School of Health Technology in 2014, which later became the Mbagen College of Health Technology.

Mbagen College of Health Technology, Abwa

The institution is located at Abwa, the headquarters of the Mbagen clan.

The school started with the Department of Community Health and is determined to grow.

It has on ground the required work force that is providing the right training as enshrined in its philosophy, vision, mission and motto as follows:

Philosophy: To develop competent primary health personnel through training programmes that equip them with the skills and knowledge to contribute effectively to primary health care.

Vision: To be a renowned centre in Benue and Nigeria for training of primary health workers who will combine high professional knowledge with the fear of God is discharging their responsibilities.

Mission: Through the training, to produce health personnel that will distinguish themselves in their work and see their services as unto God and humanity.

Motto: Training breeds a healthier society.

The foundation laying ceremony of the College of Health Technology took place at Abwa on the 4th October, 2013.

This epoch making event was performed by Dr. Mrs Dorcas Ukpe, then Director General Benue Planning Commission, and was assisted by another Mbagen woman of note, Mrs Hembadoon Amile, then Director General Services and Administration, DGSA in Ado Local Government Area.

During the visit of the then Benue State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oraduen Abunku to the Mbagen Community Hospital, Abwa, he was impressed with the facilities at the Hospital, which included the one year training programme.

He then advised the Hospital Management to upgrade the school of Health Management to the School of Health Technology.

As soon as the Commissioner left, the Board of Governors of the Hospital contacted Mbagen Development Association, under the leadership of Sir Isaac I. Nyinoh who gave the go ahead. Hon. Dennis Niongon Bua was then the Hospital Administrator, who would soon leave to represent his community as a councillor.

Though the Mbagen Development Association approved the commencement of the school, not much was done at the site designated for it, except for the packing of forty trips of sand and five trips of gravel.

In the absence of Hon. Bua there was a vacuum that needed to be filled, coincidentally the pioneer Hospital Administrator, Mr. Moses I, Hanior had retired from the services of the government at the time.

He was requested by the Mbagen Development Association on to come over and render assistance in running the school; he accepted the request and assumed duties on 7th May, 2013.

He did not waste time but swung into action on the school project.

On 4th October, 2013 a foundation laying stone ceremony was organised.

The first 3 Classroom Block was completed in December, 2013; making it possible for the first set of Diploma and certificate (Community Health Extension Workers, CHEW), and Junior Community Health Extension Workers, JCHEW, to commence lectures at the school.

The registration and inauguration of the College was done by Benue State Ministry of Health, Makurdi on 18th April, 2012.

The school was initially registered as Mbagen School of Health Technology, which was later changed to College of Health Technology, Abwa by Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria.

It was then inaugurated by Senator Dr. George Akume on 9th May, 2014, the event coincided with the first matriculation ceremony of the College.