The Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has been honoured by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) for his administration’s exceptional strides in healthcare development and doctor welfare.
The recognition came during a courtesy visit by the national leadership of NARD to Government House, Asaba, where the association presented an Award of Excellence to the governor.
NARD National President, Dr. Tope Osundara, praised the governor’s leadership, describing him as “a man of honour” and commending him for being the first governor in Nigeria to fully pay the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF) for all resident doctors in the state.
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori (middle), President, Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) Dr. Tope Osundara (6th right), NARD in-coming President, Dr. Suleman Ibrahim (6th left), Secretary to the Delta State Government, Dr. Kingsley Emu (5th left), Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme (4th left), Health Consultant to the State Government, Dr. Alphonsus Ojo (3rd left) and other executive members of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors during a courtesy visit to the Governor in Government House, Asaba.
“The essence of this MRTF is to equip resident doctors with the knowledge and resources needed to excel in their examinations and training. When they return, they come back with quality, and the people benefit from quality healthcare. Many states are still grappling with how to pay, but Delta has already done it”, he said.
The NARD President also commended the Delta government for its sustained commitment to doctors’ welfare through the payment of acculturation allowances, tax rebates, and massive investment in healthcare infrastructure, including four CT scanners and one MRI machine per senatorial district.
“Lagos with all its glory has not done up to what I have seen and heard about in Delta. For a state-owned hospital to have these equipment, Your Excellency, you deserve to be praised”, Osundara noted.
He further applauded the administration’s efforts in improving hospital access roads through its partnership with Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
In his remarks, Governor Oborevwori welcomed the NARD delegation, describing the visit as timely in light of the association’s recent strike warning. He emphasized that Delta State had fulfilled all its obligations and should not be affected by any industrial action.
“My administration is among the first three states in the country to fully pay medical residents. We are also the first to pay all resident doctors irrespective of their place of assignment. We have held up our part of the bargain, and I believe Delta should be exempted from the warning strike”, the governor stated.
He reaffirmed his administration’s strong working relationship with the medical community, noting that every request from the Ministry of Health that reached his desk had been approved without hesitation.
Governor Oborevwori also addressed concerns about accommodation challenges at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH), Oghara, stating that the delay was due to contractor compliance and not lack of funding.
“Our doctors are world-class. What they need are modern tools. If we provide the necessary equipment, they will excel here instead of leaving to work as medical assistants overseas”, he added.
