AUST, Push Africa equip youth with practical healthcare skills to bridge workforce gap - Businessday NG

The African University of Science and Technology (AUST), Abuja, in partnership with Push Africa, has rolled out a new phase of healthcare capacity-building with the training of healthcare assistants under the Push Africa Healthcare Assistant Training Programme.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja over the weekend, Azikiwe Peter Onwualu, President of AUST, said the collaboration aims to fill critical gaps in Nigeria's healthcare workforce by equipping young people with practical caregiving and health-support skills.

Onwualu expressed concern over the persistent challenges facing the health sector, noting that while doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other professionals are essential, a significant portion of healthcare delivery, both inside and outside hospitals depends on capable caregivers.

"A lot of the work that needs to be done has to be done by caregivers, because in and out of hospitals, there is a lot of need.

"Caregiving in Nigeria has traditionally been carried out by families, but we need to professionalise this area so people can offer skilled care, even outside hospital settings, and even globally," he said.

He added that the partnership with Push Africa enables AUST to provide the academic foundation for the programme while Push Africa implements hands-on training, ensuring that graduates gain not just certificates but real-world skills.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the university's broader mission of producing graduates, whether at bachelor's, master's or PhD levels who possess practical competencies that make them employable and industry-ready.

Doris Egberamen, Founder of Push Africa, said the organisation's long-term vision is to train and empower two million Nigerians and Africans with market-relevant skills that can help reduce youth unemployment and poverty.

Egberamen explained that Push Africa's work is driven by the need to correct an education system that has become overly theoretical and detached from the labour market.

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