RSSDA Overseas Scholarship Scheme Produces 1st Cardiologist

Rivers State Government’s effort in human capacity development through the special overseas scholarship programmes is yielding results, following the successful outcome of researches in cardiovascular diseases by Miss Janeth Nnenda Okogbaa, one of the beneficiaries of the programme.

Miss Okogbaa, a US-born Rivers citizen was awarded scholarship by the state government through the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA)  to study Medicine at the prestigious Stanford University, United States of America.

A press release signed by the Professor of Medicine and Associate Director, Stanford Cardiovascular Institute, Prof John P. Cooke said that Miss Janeth has succeeded in pioneering a number of researches in Cardiovascular diseases.

According to the release, “ this was a great opportunity for each of us. Janeth has performed spectacularly well, avidly acquiring new technology and knowledge, in brief, she has mastered a number of investigative tools and techniques, she has become familiar with our murine hindlimb ischemia modele of pad and the various modes of administering hipsc-ecs in vivo

She has learned how to prepare tissue samples for immune histochemistry and later determine capillcary density,” the release said.

In an interview with The Tide during a thank you visit to the agency in Port Harcourt, Miss Okogbaa said that she would remain eternally grateful to the government and the agency for the opportunity provided by the scholarship programme.

She also said that she was ready to use the skills and knowledge gained at Stanford University to assist in the  development of the state.

Reacting to the development, the head of the media unit of RSSDA, Mr Tony Uranta said that the situation showed that government’s investment in the special overseas scholarship was not out of place, noting that the programme was now yielding positive results.

“This is a typical example of what the state governor in his wisdom has achieved in building up careers and giving people hope and opportunity to excel”, he said.