Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has vowed to lay an enduring foundation that will help in raising a new generation of Rivers sons and daughters who can confidently hold their place academically and professionally on a competitive scale.

The Governor explained that the resolve stems from the fact that, in years past, the academic performances of Rivers children were highly rated, and attracted enormous respect in the comity of states until mediocrity became more rewarded than those with proven intelligence, a trend that must be reversed.

Governor Fubara also said that, on assumption office, he was greeted with the unpaid scholarship entitlements of medical students at the Rivers State University but he released the funds without hesitation.

The gesture, he stated, embodies his love, not only to ensure that the students do not get frustrated out of their studies or be further exposed to anything that may hamper excellent performance but to further achieve the goal of having efficient manpower for the health sector in the State.

Governor Fubara made the vow when he received on courtesy visit, the accreditation panel of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) led by the Registrar of MDCN, Dr. Fatima Kyari, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

Also, on the delegation were the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof Nlerum Okogbule, together with other principal officers of the College of Medical Sciences of the Institution and the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH), Prof Chizindu Alikor, as well as the State Commissioner for Health, Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh.

Governor Fubara stated that in achieving the new narrative, specific but requisite infrastructure, facilities and other levels of support will be provided to ease the process of training and improve academic standard so that Rivers people will become the best in their chosen careers.

He said, “Rivers State was noted for something many years ago. When it comes to educational rating, it was very high. For you to get admission as a Rivers person, they believed that if other people are taking (accepting) 170, Rivers State should be doing 300.

“It was because of the way they rated the State. That time, the leadership of this State paid priority to education, training of our people abroad, and believing that (it) is the only way we can build men that can secure the destiny of this State.

“But today, what is important to us is to build monsters. If you are a cultist, that is when you will be recognized. If you are an intellectual, they don’t value you.

“But, we want to change this narrative: to make people appreciate education, to make people appreciate dignity of hard work, and that no matter how little you earn, when you have a justifiable means of livelihood, it is better than the billions that you make through corruption or unjustified means of livelihood.”

Governor Fubara said he paid attention to the Registrar while she spoke, outlining a few things, which aligned with his undiluted love for the university to become the most sought after citadel of learning.

The Governor stated: “The University Authority is here. When I came on board, the medical students had a scholarship scheme that was not redeemed for more than three years. It was when I became the Governor of this State that I paid that money.

“I did not do it because I had so much or I was looking for where to spend our money. I did it because these students are our own.

“These students are students that belong to the families that voted for me. These students are the real core that will form the foundation of the future of Rivers State, medically. I have to do it, and I can tell you, I am really satisfied that the promise has been sustained. So, it is to tell you of my love for the medical institution.”

Governor Fubara said his administration is already aware of the problem associated with medical education because, according to him, it is not a cheap venture to undertake.

He noted that because it is an expensive venture, to maintain the learning facilities and ensure quality training for the students, the promise of support to the university will not be withdrawn.

Governor Fubara said: “I am also happy that from what the accreditation panel is saying here, we know that we are not doing badly, even if we just need to improve on a few areas. And I can assure you that we have noted those things, and will do something about it.

“I want to also draw your attention to a few things: Our concern for medical training is very paramount to this administration. One of our three cardinal areas of concern is healthcare, education and agriculture. And we strongly believe that if these three things are handled, half or 90 percent of our problems are solved.”

Governor Fubara pointed to what has been done by his administration to ensure availability of medical personnel with the approval for employment of 2,000 medical personnel.

Of that number, he said, 1,000 personnel will be engaged by the the Rivers State Health Management Board, and the other 1,000 personnel will be engaged by the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH).

These gestures, Governor Fubara explained, go to confirm the commitment of his administration to promote quality training within the field of medical sciences in Rivers State.

He added, “They are here, you can ask them, I didn’t send a name because I know these things are not done on Public Relations (PR). They are things you must take the professionals so that we don’t end up breeding doctors that would become disaster to the medical sciences.

“So, I understand where we are coming from and going to. For me and my team, as a government, we know where we are going to. And by the special grace of God, we will hit on our target with your support. So, this collaboration is important to us.”

Governor Fubara spoke further: “We are presently remodelling about five Zonal Hospitals. You said here that when you came in, you visited our Teaching Hospital. Although, you still remember that it is an old facility.

“But it is the only one we have. It is in this administration that we took it upon ourselves to make sure that the intermediary medical services must function, and we are building up to standard five Zonal Hospitals in the State.”

Governor Fubara assured that when these health facilities are completely put in place with the welfare of doctors in proper perspective, it will be difficult for such personnel in the employ of the State Government to consider abandoning the job and relocate abroad.

The Governor said his administration will do everything within its powers to support the university to keep the standard of studies at the College of Medical Sciences high.

He explained, “We will not bring down that level. We will ensure that the discipline in the medical sciences is still sustained in the State. It’s important to us. Look at the Vice Chancellor, for so many years, he was promised a grant, he couldn’t get it. He almost died out of stress. Everyday, if it is not issue of diesel, it will be something else.

“It was this government that also redeemed it, and today, look at the way he is happy. All the loans he took from everywhere, he has been able to pay them off,” he added.

Governor Fubara told his guests to be emissaries for the State and disabuse the minds of those who have been brainwashed with the negative narrative of violence in the State.

He stated that the hallmark of his administration is to deliver good governance, improve the quality of life lived by the people, and ensure a thriving peaceful climate for all.

He stressed, “You are here to assess our university, to assess our students; how do they fit-in in this noble profession. We will try as much as we can to make sure that we stand by you to ensure that the standard doesn’t go down.

“I believe your coming here would also present the opportunity for you to serve as emissaries for the State. I know when you were outside there, you heard that Rivers State is burning, they are killing people along the streets; in fact, as you are moving around, you will see dead bodies all over. I believe, now you’ve been in Port Harcourt and seen how peaceful the State is.

“We hold something very dear, because of the level of discipline that we have from our families and from the profession we are exposed to, knowing that peace is important to us.

“We know that for us to achieve, to defend and protect the interest of this State, we don’t need to be violent. The only person who desires violence is one who knows he has nothing to lose. But if you have something to lose, you cannot take the path of war.

“So, we accepting to take the path of peace is because this State is important to us, and we want to leave this State not just by building roads, building bridges that after some years, people will forget about it. It is to build people. Build people that would in turn build other people,” he emphasised.

In her speech, the Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr. Fatima Kyari, said she represented the body of regulators of medical studies as it relates to medical and dental training, and had visited with her team to conduct accreditation of courses and broker tenable collaboration.

Dr Kyari expressed confidence of working together with the Institution and the State Government in a collaborative manner that will lead to achieving the set targets, and also allow the Rivers State University remain as the leading producer of highest number of medical personnel in Nigeria.

She said, “We looked at infrastructure, which we have no doubt in our mind that you have excelled in it. We looked at trainers, both Clinical, Basic Clinical and Basic Medical.

“The Clinical Trainers is very attractive aspect to have because Clinical teachers deal with patients, and we have special privileges. But we will also like you to focus on Basic Medical Trainers and Basic Clinical Trainers.

“We will like you to consider opportunities for research for basic medical and basic clinical so that you, again, can trail the blaze in developing research excellence framework that will enable you to compete on a global platform with the highest portfolio of competencies.”

Dr Fatima said they were looking to see provisions and policies towards achieving retention capacity, so that medical doctors trained in facilities in the State do not abandon the State and take their skills abroad or elsewhere.

She added, “In as much as we are eager to increase the numbers, already you have the highest number in the country of producing medical doctors. And since the medical programme started, there has not been a hitch in the training.

“You had committed teachers, you had smooth academic programmes with no disruptions, and we are expecting that the students will graduate at the right time, at when it is due with no hitches. I think that is highly commendable to the university.”

Also speaking, Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof Nlerum Okogbule, noted the unparallel support extended by Governor Fubara to the university, which has become a university of choice in the country.

Prof Okogbule also said that there is no doubt that the presence of the College of Medical Sciences in the university has greatly contributed to the enhanced national and international visibility of the Rivers State University.

He said, “And for this visit, Your Excellency, we had the Accreditation Panel of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. They are here to carry out the final accreditation of our College of Medical Sciences to enable us produce our first set of medical doctors from the university.

“The importance of the exercise is underscored by the fact that the accreditation panel is led by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. Fatima Kyari.

“I have no doubt at all that with the robust support that the government has given us, we will be able to go through this accreditation and successfully go through it in a way that will glorify God,” he added.

He thanked the Governor for the numerous support given to the university, and assured that his team will justify the confidence reposed in the management of the institution.