NEW DAWN AT FMC AZARE AS DR DAUDA KATAGUM EMERGES MEDICAL DIRECTOR
By Aminu Adamu Kuda
Following the expiration of the tenure of Medical Director, Federal Medical Center (FMC) Azare, Dr Abdullahi Ibrahim FMCP in April 2022, the atmosphere was swiftly engulfed with euphoria and ecstacy as another experienced and sufficiently exposed hand, a Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at the country’s apex medical facility, the National Hospital, Abuja -Dr Dauda Abubakar Katagum, MBBS, FWACS has just been appointed to head the facility in Azare after it had just celebrated its 20th Anniversary in March this year.
This development had excited the morale and confidence of the members of staff and the community as Dr Dauda hits the ground running to take FMC Azare to the promised land. ‘There is a new Sherrif in town. His name, Dr Dauda Abubakar Katagum’ -they say.
Dr Dauda (popularly known as Dr Tata in the locality) was born in the 60s in the ancient Katagum town of Zaki Local Government where the legendary Malam Zaki – a flagbearer of Shehu Usman Danfodio – established the Emirate and where his remains lay in peace. Dr Dauda was schooled at Kaduna and Bauchi towns where he obtained Primary School Certificate and later the hackneyed Federal Government College Minna, Niger State before proceeding to University of Maiduguri to bag an MBBS in 1991. Within those early years, he had exhibited incredible leadership potentials as a Team Leader and Captain, Library Prefect, National President of Bauchi State Medical Students Association and as a Senate Member, University of Maiduguri Medical Students Association, inter alia.
Moving forward, as far back as 1992 during his NYSC year, he had taken up leadership positions at Committee, Management and Administrative levels. He had risen through the ranks from an Intern House Officer to the pinnacle as Chief Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and Head of the Department at the National Hospital, Abuja. He literally rose to become the number two man in the Nation’s appex hospital as the Acting Director of Clinical Services and Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee.
Dr Dauda has been a member of over a dozen Professional and Non-Professional Organisations including the Nigerian Medical Association of Nigeria, Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologist of Nigeria, Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, Special Marshall – Federal Road Safety Commission and at a time, a Board Member, Governing Board of Bauchi State College of Health Technology, Ningi, among many others. These evidences show his doggedness and innate capacity.
As an ardent researcher and proponent of value addition, he had written, co-authored and presented over a dozen research papers over the course of his stint as a Medical Practitioner. He has published widely. All these aside plethora of other Administrative and Adhoc appointments. From Plateau to Sokoto, Abuja to Ibadan, Dakar, Kumasi and Guinea, Dr Katagum had participated in Intensive Capacity Building Programs, Workshops and Short Courses to hone his professional, managerial and leadership skills. In fact, recently in August 2021, he obtained a Diploma Certification in Microsoft Office Productivity Tools at Leadway Training and Technology Institute, Abuja.
Believing that action speaks louder than words, Dr Dauda is widely known to be economical with words but not with the truth. He had mastered the Art of Golden Silence. As if when Epictecus said ‘Let silence be your general rule; say only what is necessary and in few words’, he was describing Dr Dauda Katagum. But there is a limit to what one can keep low and discreet. The good he had silently done and facilitated over the years is a point of reference and emulation for the younger generation.
Quite a significant part of his career has been in Abuja where he works and successfully carved a niche for himself in the profession. His strides did not go unnoticed for as a token of appreciation, he was a recipient of a Letter of Commendation by the Governing Board of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital, Bauchi for his tremendous contribution towards the development of the facility at its tenth anniversary. A similar Letter of Commendation was also presented to him by the Governing Board of the National Hospital, Abuja for 20 years of Meritorious Service in 2019. As if that was not enough, he was also a recipient of Award of Recognition of Outstanding Service to the Nation and Humanity by the Association of Resident Doctors, National Hospital, Abuja.
Back home, Dr Dauda had never lost touch with his roots. He has over the decades been actively committed to the development of Katagum and Bauchi State. Little wonder the Katagum Emirate Council in 2019 conferred on him the revered title of ‘Zanna Dujima of Katagum’. It takes unsurmountable efforts to an appreciable degree in community service for anyone to receive such level of recognition from an Emirate Council like Katagum which is blessed with abundance of distinguished personalities from all walks of life.
The prospects of the conversion and upgrade of Federal Medical Centre Azare to a Teaching Hospital in view of the newly established Federal University of Health Sciences Azare is predictable. With his enviable credentials and track record, it needs no rocket science to assert that Dr Dauda Katagum is a round peg in a round hole perfectly fit for purpose to seamlessly oversee such swift transition with style. I can only congratulate the system for having him on board to contribute his quota towards the establishment and development of the Teaching Hospital. We are a confident that he will bring his wealth of experience to bear in purposeful and strategic leadership. We pray may God Almighty be his guide and source of strength. Amin
