FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing a substantive leader to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), describing the choice as a case of putting a “round peg in a round hole.” Wike’s remarks came during a visit to stakeholders in the hospital community where he highlighted the importance of competent leadership at key public institutions.
Wike said the appointment demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through capable and qualified leadership. By endorsing the new UPTH boss, the president has sent a signal that performance, expertise, and institutional needs guide such decisions, he added.
Healthcare professionals, civil servants, and other observers welcomed Wike’s endorsement, noting that stability at the top of critical health agencies can improve service delivery, patient outcomes, and staff morale. The UPTH appointment was also seen as a broader effort by the federal government to align leadership roles with organisational mandates, particularly in sectors critical to social development and national wellbeing.
Supporters of the appointment hope it will translate into renewed focus on overcoming the operational challenges faced by UPTH, especially as it navigates funding, workforce pressures, and infrastructural upgrades. Wike’s commendation reinforces the political backing for the new leadership at one of Nigeria’s foremost teaching hospitals
