Stakeholders Laud Gov Mbah’s commitment To Educational Development
…As College Of Nursing Sciences ,Awgu Secures HND Accreditation
Stakeholders comprising religious leaders, traditional rulers and Awgu Development unions have commended the Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah and his Special Adviser on Health, Dr Yomi Jaye on their efforts in seeing to the accreditation and upgrading of the former School of Basic Midwifery,Awgu to a College of Nursing Sciences, bringing it to an Ordinary National Diploma and a Higher National Diploma awarding status ,
They gave the commendation during the ground breaking ceremony of a 100-beded Hostel project initiated by the Umuada Awgu Progressive Association ( Umuada Awgu Global), held on Saturday , February 24, at the College of Nursing Sciences, Awgu campus
.
Speaking at the event, the Governor of Enugu state, Dr Peter Mbah, who was represented by the Chief Medical Director, Enugu State University of Science and Technology( ESUT,) Parklane, Prof. B.A. F Ngwu, said the interventions in the institution became necessary so as to avoid its closure.
He lamented that the 67years old institution ( established in 1957) was abandoned for so long and was at the verge of being shut down.
Governor Mbah commended Umuada Awgu for their support. He said the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) had drawn their criteria for accreditation and the School had migrated to a College that will offer Ordinary National Diploma( OND) and Higher National Diploma(HND) anybody who graduated from the College will go for National Youth Service Corps( NYSC)
According to him, the College would have been closed down ,if not for those interventions, which earned the College accreditation and upgrade.
He described the event as epoch-making, saying, “the stone laying of 100 bedded hostel is a fundamental requirement for this institution.
“In fact, one of the basic things that could have denied us the elevation from the school of Basic Midwifery to College of Nursing Sciences could have been hostels but because we have one or two buildings that can start off the College, it was granted to us. So, it was as if the mothers and Umuada Awgu knew the predicaments we went through in getting the school migrated from school of Basic Midwifery to College of Nursing Sciences, they quickly came up with this idea, that they want to build hostel and meant it. That shows that they are pragmatic and they have the good of their home at heart.
” For a ladies who had been married away to come together and organise themselves and put up a project , it’s to be emulated. I thank them. They are wonderful, they are fantastic This is what should be emulated by others”, he said..
The CMD sad they will increase the number of students to be admitted if they have hostels. He disclosed that the state government will build six storey hostel for the College as well as at Parklane.”This school will in no distant time be producing graduates,” he said.
In his speech, the Bishop of Awgu Catholic Diocese,Most Rev John Ifeanyi Okoye, commended Umuada Awgu for taking up the hostel project.
“You are already participating in the healing ministry of Jesus.He urged them to continue to collaborate and see to the completion of the projects .
Represented by Rev. Fr Chidiebere Henry Okolo, the Bishop said the ceremony was very significant and should be given the attention it deserved
“It is the beginning of a new chapter in the construction of a hostel for our children and their friends, our future healthcare givers. On another point, this project is important for the impact it will have on this community and on all men and women of goodwill everywhere. This is because every community can sustain itself if our people learn to think like the initiators of this laudable and noble project.
‘This project was born from a shared vision of the Umuada Awgu Progressive Association for a quality healthcare Service delivery for our people. Building a safe and comfortable hostel is a good place to begin. Ultimately, it is an investment made now that will guarantee a future of our dreams. It is a participation in the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, who once lived among us as one who healed soul and body and who wished to perpetuate his healing presence when he commissioned sacred ministers, recognised institutions that represents healing and endorsed good works.
The Cleric thanked all those who came together to share their dreams which gave rise to the ceremony.
” I can assure you that your pains are almost over because your initiative is not a mere investment in blocks and mortar but an investment in human capacity, an investment in a community, on individuals, in concrete persons with their latent, but powerful and explosive potentials for transformation, ” Bishop Okoye said
He also thanked members of Umuada Awgu and all stakeholders, encouraging them to continue to collaborate for the completion of the laudable project.
“Building any structure requires dedication, hard-work and very importantly collaboration. May we not soon forget that we need each other to bring this vision to life. Today as we lay the foundation stone we are a step or few away from its reality. As we gather to lay this stone, we equally celebrate our feat. We celebrate all who contributed, who will contribute later for our success. Yours is no little one. Every community can take care of itself. To realise the community of our dreams we need mothers like our Umuada who understand that good actions no matter how little can cause great ripples of positive change,” he said..
To Umuada Awgu, Bishop Okoye said, “Our dear Umuada you are makers of our home. With this solemn event you have once again asserted that disinterested service is the rule. Together we stand on the threshhold of something truly special and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact of this project as days
unfold.”
Bishop Okoye prayed afor a successful completion of the project.
In his speech, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yemi Jaye , who was represented by his Personnel Assistant,Dr. Uzoma Ibeh, commended the Umuada Awgu for their support to the institution.
The SPA.said, ” history was being made in Awgu because they had been following the institution where he ( the SPA )was told some of the year two students were going to miss their graduation because of lack of indexing and from there, they followed it up until they got the National Board for Technical Education, the Nursing Council, everybody to come in , to ensure that what they wanted to do at the school was done. and ensure that everyone who will pass through the institution will come out with Ordinary National Diploma.( OND) and Higher National Diploma( HND) . They approved the school as a campus of School of Nursing Sciences
He said, ” whatever that is difficult can be achieved if we come together. So, if we come together and put our hands together, then ,we can achieve everything.
In his goodwill message, the President General Awgu Development Union, Prof Raymond Okoye, who was represented by his Vice, commended the Governor of Enugu state for his intervention at the College, seeing to it’s accreditation and upgrading to the status of Campus 2 of ESUT.
He also commended the former Governor of Enugu State, Rt. Hon.(Dr.) Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for the infrastructural development he brought to the College .He also appealed to the state Governor to look into the University of Education Ihe, project and bring it to reality, so that Awgu local government will continue to develop.
Earlier, the President of Umuada Awgu Development Association, Ambassador Chnemerem Anyi, in her speech, ssid the project is a N500 million 100 bedded hostel.
Ambassador Anyi said their collective belief in improving healthcare and education, motivated them into embarking on the project to ensure the future of their children. She said they are building and they are handing over the hostel to the school. She appealed to philanthropists to join them in the execution of the project
The President commended Umuada Awgu for their support and appealed for collaboration from all stakeholders.
In an interview, the Principal of the College, Mrs Theresa Agbo ,said hostel is one of the criteria for accreditation and Umuada Awgu has given them the hope. She said they had been appealing to good spirited individuals to support the School because the students were living outside the school and it’s a challenge .
The principal added that the school has been neglected by the past administrations and it has been loosing and regaining accreditation but the one they lost in 2021 was regained by Gov Mbah’ in September , 2023.
On her part, the Chairman, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Mid-Wives,Enugu state chapter Comrade Dr. Ngozi Ukwu, commended the Umuada Awgu for their intervention. She said the hostel problem was one of the challenges the students had, so the intervention of Umuada Awgu is a welcome development.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Sam Udekwe is a journalist working in the News and Current Affairs department, Enugu State Broadcasting Service (ESBS) Enugu. He is well trained in all genres of journalistic venture.
Mr Sam read Mass Communication, graduating all with Distinction in National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma at IMT, Enugu and Madonna University, Okija, Anambra state, while he is presently on his M.Sc programme also in Mass Communication, at National Open University of Nigeria.
He is currently the NUJ Chairman, Enugu state.
samowailo@gmail.com
