By Austin Ogwuda
GOVERNOR Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State has commended the former Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon. Ndudi Elumelu for attracting the new College of Nursing in the State, noting that it would greatly enhance the tempo and quality of human capital development in the health sector.
The governor stated this at the formal opening of the College of Nursing Sciences, Onicha-Uku, Aniocha North Local Government Area, (Satellite Campus), of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba on Monday and announced a donation of 32-seater Coastal bus to the College.
Said he, “Currently, there are five state-owned colleges of nursing, but their carrying capacity cannot absorb all the qualified applicants. Hence, the establishment of this College of Nursing Sciences, Onicha-Uku (Satellite Campus), of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, through our illustrious son, Rt. Hon. Ndudi Elumelu, will provide adequate health care for this community and environs.
“As a Government, we are proud to be associated with this College of Nursing Sciences, Onicha-Uku (Satellite Campus), of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, which will greatly enhance human capital development in the health sector.
“I commend him ( Ndudi Elumelu) for laying this solid foundation for the take-off of this College of Nursing Sciences.
My appreciation also goes to the Hon. Minister of Health, as well as the management and staff of Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, for this achievement.
“The presence of this school”, he went on, “will, no doubt, boost the retail economy in Onicha-Uku and neigbhouring communities. I, therefore, urge them to reciprocate this kind gesture of the Federal Government by taking ownership of the school and to protect this critical asset that has been brought to the community. Security is paramount.
“On our part, we shall lend adequate support and collaboration to the new College of Nursing Sciences. I have listened carefully to the requests of the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, on various areas of need. I assure you of our willingness to assist within the limits of available resources, in due course.
“It is my prayer that this College of Nursing Sciences will fulfill its mandates by contributing immensely to the growth of nursing education in Nigeria.
”The immediate Past Minority Leader, House of Representatives, Hon Ndudi Elumelu, at the event, said the College of Nursing was one of the many projects he attracted to Aniocha/Oshimili Federal Constituency and pledged to continue to contribute to the development of the area”.
He challenged students of the institution to maximize the opportunity to acquire knowledge to bridge the manpower needs in the health sector.
Speaking earlier, the Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Dr Victor Osiatuma thanked Hon Elumelu for attracting the College while in office and appealed to the State government and other relevant stakeholders for the sinking of a borehole to solve water needs in the school, in addition to handling the issues of electricity, transportation and security.
