The College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja has received learning equipment from the Alliance Hospital in fulfilment of its earlier pledge to help boost the learning and teaching environment in the university
The action of the foremost Abuja-based multi-speciality private hospital, came just less than five weeks after it sealed an agreement for collaboration with the college to address critical needs in healthcare education and services in the institution.
The items donated include 150 auditorium chairs, electric cable to light up the college’s 500-capacity auditorium and eight units of standing air conditioners, respectively.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Aisha Sani Maikudi, commissioned the items for use yesterday when the Medical Director of Alliance Hospital, Dr. Christopher Otabor, visited to formally hand over the equipment.
Speaking during the event, Prof. Maikudi thanked the Alliance Hospital’s boss for what she described as “his kindness and commitment to advancing education in Nigeria”, noting that the donations have significantly improved the university’s infrastructure, providing a conducive environment for the students and staff to thrive.
According to her, the intervention has greatly supported the university’s efforts, particularly in preparation for the upcoming re-accreditation.
She said:”The generous donation has significantly improved our infrastructure, providing a conducive environment for our students and staff to thrive. We are deeply grateful for this kindness and commitment to advancing education in Nigeria.
“Absolutely, we prioritize the needs of all our students, not just those in medical programs. Our faculties, departments, and instructors work together to incorporate industry partnerships into our lectures, ensuring that our students receive a well-rounded education.
“We recognize the importance of collaboration with the private sector and have established partnerships with several industrial partners. These partnerships enhance our programs and provide our students with valuable learning opportunities.
“This intervention has greatly supported our efforts, particularly in preparation for our upcoming re-accreditation. The donation has also contributed significantly to our ability to train medical students, who do not pay tuition fees but rather service charges.
“In addition to this support, we plan to develop critical areas within the faculty. For instance, the donation of equipment and resources has been invaluable, and we are grateful for the provost’s efforts in this regard.”
On his part, Otabor explained that his action was necessitated by the need to help support the government to improve the healthcare delivery system as according to him,”governments alone cannot efficiently fund education and healthcare. ”
Lamenting the poor budget allocation to both the nation’s health and education sectors, the renowned consultant orthopaedic surgeon, while noting that the private sector must collaborate with government institutions to enhance productivity, explained that his action was also to help the University of Abuja increase its capacity to admit more medical students.
He said: “If we are honest with ourselves, it’s clear that our society has many needs. Unfortunately, governments alone cannot efficiently fund education and healthcare. Therefore, we must take charge of our destinies. The private sector must collaborate with government institutions to enhance productivity.
“For instance, the federal budget for education and healthcare combined is less than what some states in the US spend on healthcare alone. We cannot simply complain or criticize; we must take action. Everyone has something to offer, no matter how small.
“That is why we have partnered with the University of Abuja to increase their capacity to admit more medical students. They have been tasked with doubling their intake, but this requires accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council. To support this, we have upgraded their facilities, including electricity.
“Our goal is to produce more doctors, especially in the face of brain drain. To achieve this, we need to be proactive and graduate more students. We are also exploring exchange programs that allow medical students to gain practical experience at our hospital.
“Inspiring others to take action is crucial. There are many individuals and institutions with the capacity to make a difference. We must encourage them to get involved and support their local communities. Quoting Abraham Lincoln’s saying that ‘We must think of what we can do for our country, not just what our country can do for us’, Otabor said his gesture was a call for “everyone to contribute to the development of our society.
“This is a call to action for everyone to contribute to the development of our society.
“I chose to support the University of Abuja because of its proximity to our institution and my personal connection with the newly elected provost, Professor Titus Ibekwe. He highlighted the needs of the faculty, and I saw an opportunity to make a positive impact.
“Our ultimate goal is to create a significant impact by inspiring others to follow our example. We believe that collective action can lead to meaningful change.
“In addition to our partnership with the University of Abuja, we are also exploring other initiatives to support education and healthcare in our community. We believe that by working together, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.
“We urge others to join us in this effort. Whether it’s supporting a local school or hospital, or simply volunteering your time, every contribution counts. Together, we can make a difference and create a better world for all.
“We must take responsibility for our own destinies and work together to address the needs of our society. By doing so, we can create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come.”
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Prof. Titus Ibekwe, while also speaking at the event, expressed gratitude to Dr. Otabor for the gesture.
He said his administration in the college was committed to “making a positive impact on our community and the country at large”, in the realisation of the fact that ‘education is key to unlocking the potential of our young people. ”
“I am thrilled to share our vision for transforming the university into a world-class institution. As a team, we have taken a collective responsibility to drive change. During the election year, we conducted a thorough analysis of the college’s problems and identified areas for improvement.
“We recognise that relying solely on government funding is unrealistic, so we are seeking partnerships with individuals and organizations to support our mission. We are grateful for the support of our leadership and colleagues, who share our vision for a better future.
“Our goal is to establish a reference college of medicine that can compete with the best institutions globally. It’s an ambitious dream, but we are confident that with collective effort, we can achieve it, ” he said.
Continuing, Prof. Ibekwe explained,”To achieve this goal, we are focusing on creating a conducive environment that will attract top talent and encourage them to contribute their best. We believe that our efforts will have a positive impact on the university and the country as a whole.”
Describing the university as a truly national institution, with a catchment area that spans all 36 states of the country, Prof. Ibekwe explained, “Our admission process is rigorous and merit-based, considering both JAMB scores and other relevant factors.”
“We are committed to making a positive impact on our community and the country at large. We believe that education is key to unlocking the potential of our young people, and we are dedicated to providing them with the best possible opportunities for growth and development.
“I would like to express my gratitude to our team members, who have worked tirelessly to drive our vision forward. I would also like to thank our partners and supporters, who have believed in us and contributed to our success.
“Together, we can achieve great things and create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come, ” he added.
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