Expanding Global AI Impact: CIoTH Partners with DUFUHS to Launch New AI Centre for Health Sciences

We are thrilled to share a major milestone in our ongoing mission to drive global AI innovation and academic collaboration. David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS) in Uburu, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, has officially unveiled its new Centre for Artificial Intelligence Application, established in partnership with the Centre of Intelligence of Things (CIoTH) at the University of Greater Manchester, UK.

Building upon the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between our institutions, this state-of-the-art facility will serve as a hub for AI-driven education, capacity building, and interdisciplinary research across health sciences, public health, computing, and administrative fields.

Driving Innovation in Health Sciences and AI

The new centre reflects a shared commitment to equipping healthcare professionals, academics, and students with future-ready AI competencies.

Highlighting the vision behind the initiative, Prof. Jesse Uneke, Vice-Chancellor of DUFUHS, noted:

“Following the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Centre of Intelligence of Things, University of Greater Manchester, United Kingdom, this partnership will support AI capacity building, staff and student training, collaborative research, application development, and the deployment of AI-driven solutions for societal impact.”

The collaboration will be anchored by DUFUHS Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Administration, Prof. Nkeiruka Folaranmi, working alongside the DVC Academic and colleagues from the Faculty of Computing and Digital Health.

Leading the Academic & Practical Charge

Leading the research and training initiatives at the new centre is Prof. Celestine Iwendi, Visiting Professor to DUFUHS and key member of CIoTH at the University of Greater Manchester. A globally recognized scholar in Artificial Intelligence and IoT, Prof. Iwendi will guide staff and students through hands-on training, joint research projects, and practical AI deployments aimed at tackling real-world healthcare and societal challenges.

As Prof. Nkeiruka Folaranmi emphasized during the unveiling:

“Through this centre and its collaboration with CIoTH, the university is positioning itself as a forward-looking specialized institution committed to innovation, applied research, and global academic partnership.”

What Lies Ahead

The Centre for Artificial Intelligence Application will offer:

• Internal Capacity Building: Comprehensive AI literacy and technical skills training for DUFUHS students and faculty.

• External Learning Programs: Specialised short courses and workshops for healthcare professionals and researchers.

• Applied Research & Solutions: Interdisciplinary projects focused on health diagnostics, public health analytics, and AI-powered health administration.

At CIoTH, we look forward to working closely with our colleagues at DUFUHS to push the boundaries of applied artificial intelligence in health sciences.

Stay tuned for updates on upcoming research calls, joint workshops, and seminar announcements!