Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has restated his resolve to restore the past glory of education in the state.
Fubara disclosed this while receiving the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. Fatima Kyari and her team on a courtesy visit at Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday and said the effort of the government to promote educational development in the state is already yielding positive impacts on the Rivers State University which is witnessing a total transformation.
He noted Rivers State used to earned a high reputation nationally in educational development but the prospect dwindled when less value was placed on intellectual propriety, but assured that his administration will invest in education to secure the future of the state.
“Rivers State was noted for high educational rating in the past For you to get admission as a Rivers person, they believe that if candidates from other states are to be admitted with 170 mark, Rivers indigenes were expected to score as high as 300 marks. It was because of the way the State was rated. At that time the leadership of the State paid priority to education and training our people abroad believing that that is the only way we can build men that can secure the destiny of the State, but today people are building monsters. If you are a cultist that is when you will be recognized, but if you are an intellectual they don’t value you, however we want to change the narrative to make people appreciate education and dignity of hard work.”
He commended the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria and the Accreditation Panel for the visit, stressing that the development of the medical sector is paramount to his administration, and called for stronger collaboration with critical stakeholders to raise medical practitioners that will not be disasters to the society.
“When I came onboard, the medical students had a scholarship scheme that was not redeemed for more than 3 years. It was when I became the Governor of this state that I paid that money. ”
“Now I did not do it because I had so much or I was looking for where to spend our money. I did it because these students are our own, they are students that belong to the families that voted for me. These students are the core that will form the foundation of the future of Rivers state medically. I had to do it and I can tell you I’m really happy that promise has been sustained.”
The governor restated that healthcare is critical to his administration and has taken appropriate steps to improve the sector in line with his cardinal objective of developing healthcare, education and agriculture in the State, adding that in response to the needs of the people, his administration is remodeling 5 Zonal Hospitals to provide for the intermediary medical care services in support of the efforts of the teaching hospital.
“I want to also draw your attention to a few things. Our concern for medical care is very paramount for this administration. One of our 3 cardinal areas of concern is healthcare, education and agriculture. We strongly believe that if these three things are handled, half or 90% of our problems are solved. We are talking about doctors, I have already approved the employment of 2000 medical personnel. Yes, 1000 for the Health Management Board, and 1000 for the Teaching Hospital. That is to tell you my support for medical sciences in Rivers State. They are here you can ask them, I didn’t send a name because I know these things are not things for PR, they are things you must take the professional, so that you don’t end up breeding doctors that will become disasters to the medical sciences.”
He applauded the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for acknowledging the efforts of the State government in improving the facilities to enhance medical education at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital and also maintain the required standards that has given the University national and global recognition, and assured of his continued support to the University as his alma mater.
“I am also happy that from what the accreditation panel is saying, is that we are not doing badly, we just need to improve on a few areas and I can assure you that we have noted those things and we will do something about it.”
“So, we will do everything within our powers as a government by the special grace of God to make sure that we continue to keep the standard of medical sciences in this State high. We will not bring down that level, we will ensure that the discipline in the medical sciences is sustained in the State because it is important to us.”
The governor urged the team to be emissaries for the State in spreading the peaceful atmosphere of the State against the negative narrative often peddled by detractors of the State, noting that it takes those with stakes and highly disciplined to toe the path of peace, as those without stake are always out for violence.
“Let me finally on behalf of the government and the good people of Rivers State thank everyone of you. I believe that your coming here, we urge you to be good emissaries to us. I know when you are outside you hear a lot of negative things about the State, either the State is burning, or that they are killing people along the street, but you have been in Port Harcourt since yesterday, you can see how peaceful the State is.”
“We hold something very dear, because of the level of discipline that we have from the family and the profession peace is important to us. We know that for us to achieve, to defend and protect the interest of this State we don’t need to be violent. The only person who desires violence is one who knows he has nothing to lose, but if you have something to lose you don’t take the path of war. So our accepting to take the path of peace is because this State is important to us and we want to leave this State not just by building roads, building bridges that after some years people will forget about it, but to build people that will also build others as you talked about training the trainer.”
On her part the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. Fatima Kyari said the courtesy visit was to intimate the Governor of the accreditation and delivery of standards in medical education in Rivers State University, based on the Governor’s request.
The Registrar emphasised that the Governor as an alumnus of the Rivers State University, he is most disposed to develop the University to standard.
“Your Excellency Sir, we appreciate your commitment to medical education. We have heard all the stories. Medical education is not an easy field. It has to do with human lives, it is capital intensive to develop it.”
“And we are told that as regulators, we are quite demanding in infrastructure and facilities. And it also attracts brilliant minds, not just the doctors but people that facilitate the education and ensure that the facilities are in place.Most importantly it needs committed leadership and a strong political will, which we are happy to see and we are happy to feel it.”
Dr. Kyari who emphasized the importance of collaboration between Rivers State Government and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria in medical excellence, said accreditation of courses, training and retention capacity, research and excellence to enhance global competence and service delivery formed the bases of the visit.
Also speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule thanked the Governor for the audience, and his uncommon love and support for the University, especially the prowess recorded in the Medical College which has contributed to the national and global visibility of the University.
