In a significant recognition of visionary leadership in Nigeria’s healthcare sector, the Committee of Tertiary Healthcare Institutions has conferred a prestigious ‘Award of Excellence’ upon Prof. Shehu Sale, the immediate past Medical Director of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) in Kware, Sokoto State. The award, presented in Sokoto on Saturday, December 20, 2025, honors Prof. Sale’s eight-year tenure (2017-2025), which is credited with fundamentally transforming the institution.
The ceremony, attended by leading figures from Nigeria’s tertiary health system, was presided over by Prof. Abdulrahaman Sheshe, Chief Medical Director of the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital. In his remarks, Prof. Sheshe highlighted that the award was not merely ceremonial but a substantive acknowledgment of “outstanding performance” and “excellent stewardship.” He specifically lauded Sale for modernizing FNPH Kware into a facility that now provides critical, specialized mental health services to the populace.
This accolade underscores a critical, often overlooked, achievement: elevating a standalone psychiatric hospital into an integrated healthcare hub. Under Prof. Sale’s leadership, FNPH Kware broke traditional silos by expanding to offer general medical care. This integration is a vital model for Nigeria, where mental health is frequently stigmatized and treated in isolation from physical health. The move ensures patients receive holistic care, addressing co-occurring conditions in one setting.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking legacy of Prof. Sale’s tenure is the establishment of the first School of Nursing Science among all psychiatric hospitals in Nigeria. This initiative tackles a root cause of the nation’s healthcare workforce crisis—specialized training. By creating a pipeline for nurses trained specifically in psychiatric and mental health care, the institution is investing in sustainable capacity building, which will benefit the entire national health system for decades to come.
The event also featured commendations from Prof. Anas Sabir, Chief Medical Director of the Usmanu Danfodio University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto, who praised Sale’s “astute leadership.” The presence of the substantive Medical Director of FNPH Kware, Dr. Abubakar Baguda Sulaiman, symbolized a seamless transition and the continuity of the development trajectory set by the awardee.
The recognition of Prof. Sale serves as a powerful case study in healthcare management. It demonstrates how focused leadership in a resource-constrained environment can achieve transformative change through strategic expansion, integration of services, and investment in human capital. His work at FNPH Kware provides a replicable blueprint for other specialist hospitals across Africa seeking to broaden their impact and sustainability.
Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
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