Plight Of Students Abroad: RVHA Summons RSSDA Boss

Acting chairman, Okrika LGA, Hon Godknows Tam George (right) conferring with Pastor David Ibiyeomie at the dedication of the Local Government Council and its leadership, on Wednesday. Photo Donatus Ken-Nwvieh

Rivers State House of Assembly(RVHA) on Wednesday
unanimously resolved to summon the Executive Director of the Rivers State
Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) over the plight of the state overseas
medical students in the United Kingdom.

The resolution followed a debate on the report of the House
Committee on Public complaints that investigated the petition written by Rivers
Students on how RSSDA handled the overseas scholarship of medical students in
the UK.

Speaker of the House, Rt Hon Otelemaba Amachree ruled that
the Executive Director of RSSDA, Mr Noble Pepple be invited to appear before
the lawmakers next Wednesday to explain how students admitted to read medicine
in the United Kingdom ended up with pre-medical degrees.

Hon Amachree directed the clerk of the Assembly to summon Mr
Pepple to appear with relevant documents, relating to the United Kingdom
medical students and representatives of the petitioners to enable the House
ascertain the true position of the matter.

Opening debate on the report, the Leader of the Assembly,
Hon. Chidi Lloyd said the state government made solid arrangements to sponsor
students abroad to study critical courses that would boost the state man-power.

He noted that the good intentions were being affected by
shortages in Federal Allocations to the state, and pleaded with parents of the
affected children to bear with government, stressing that the students should
equally make minimum sacrifice to enable RSSDA remit more funds.

Hon. Golden Chioma, Etche constituency II said the petition
and the findings of the committee showed clear negligence on the part of RSSDA
management for taking the students to UK without admission, and called for the
Executive Director’s appearance to brief the House.

According to him, “the students left here with the intention
of becoming medical doctors but ended up studying biomedical courses”, adding
that the RSSDA should ensure that those students be further sponsored to study
medicine.

Hon. Sam Eligwe (Ahoada West) noted that the allegation by
petitioners that RSSDA is not sponsoring any student in medicine should be
verified while Augustine Ngo, Abua/Odual blamed the students for keeping quiet
for four years.

Hon. Gift-Wockocha, remarked that there exist gross
inefficiency on the part of RSSDA because the management had misinformed Rivers
people and supported the call for the Executive Director to appear before the
House.

Others who spoke in the same direction were Hon. Martin
Amaewhule, Hon. Kelechi Nwogu and Hon. Victoria Nyeche who pointed out lapses
by the RSSDA on the matter.