Follow Us on Google
From Felix Ikem, Nsukka
The Enugu State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing quality and accessible education and healthcare services.
Mbah stated this, yesterday, at the 3rd Founders’ Day Celebration of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Igbo-Eno, Enugu State.
He said his administration would continue to expand access to quality education, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, promote innovation, as well as build human capital capable of driving the economic transformation of the state.
“These institutions are not only centres of learning, but they are strategic partners in public policy implementations and societal advancement.
“We honour those whose foresight gave birth to the establishment of this university with the clear understanding that medical and applied sciences education are essential to national progress.
“This celebration comes at a time when education and healthcare development occupy a central place in the policy direction of my administration,” he said.
The governor, who was represented by the state Commissioner for Health, Prof George Ugwu, further stated that for a country, such as Nigeria, the intersection of education, healthcare, and economic development is critical, in order to have the required health workers.
“This university is dedicated to medical and applied sciences that will carry both academic and societal responsibilities, the state’s emphasis on smart schools, digital learning environments, and improved healthcare access aligned naturally with this university’s mandate.
“Universities must serve as hubs for workforce development in critical health and science sectors.
“To the students, especially those in medicine, nursing, pharmacy, laboratory sciences, engineering, and related fields, you are not just learners; you are future drivers of transformation.
“Your expertise in the future will influence healthcare delivery policy, research, and technological progress, pursuing excellence not only for personal advancement, but for societal impact,” he said.
The governor explained that his administration in partnership with Godfrey Okoye University is establishing a Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) laboratory.
The laboratory, he said, would help with DNA forensics analysis aimed to enhance security as well as assist in criminal investigations.
Mbah commended Msgr Prof Obiora Ike, the Pro-chancellor of SUMAS, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof James Ogbonna, management, and staff for their service, commitment, and dedication to the institution.
Speaking, Bishop Godfrey Onah, the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, while delivering the Founders’ Day Lecture titled; “University Education and Crises of Values in Nigeria of Today” said that Nigerian universities are facing crises of values in the educational system.
Other News
“University is dedicated to research, teaching, and the education of students who freely associate with their teachers in a common world of knowledge.
“It’s disheartening, today, that many of our universities are consumer universities,” he said.
In a remark, the Pro-chancellor of SUMAS (Prof Ike) expressed appreciation to Bishop Onah, the Founder’s Day lecturer for the thought-provoking and intellectually rich lecture which, he said, was rooted in theology, philosophy, anthropology, sociology, technology and logic.
Prof Ike commended Governor Mbah for always giving the university special attention in his desire to make the university the best in the country.
The Pro-chancellor applauded the Vice-chancellor of SUMAS (Prof Ogbonna) and his management team for their dedication, which is responsible for the continued rapid growth of the university.
Earlier in his address, Prof James Ogbonna, Vice-Chancellor of SUMAS, said that the institution was established to address the problems of acute shortage of medical, health, and technology personnel in Nigeria and the world, as well as to give access to quality healthcare services in Enugu State and beyond.
“We have gathered here, today, to express our gratitude to those who founded our university, as well as to those who are contributing in various ways to ensure that SUMAS continues to meet the expectations of our Founding Fathers.
“SUMAS was established to join the global intellectual community in the abiding search for truth, which is the philosophical reason for research that fashions solutions to global problems through the prism of local challenges.
“It is in this regard that SUMAS is nationally unique as the first university in Nigeria established to explore the research interface of Medical and Applied Sciences in solving pressing national problems,” he said.
The VC noted that the university has witnessed a lot of infrastructural development that has made the institution’s environment conducive for teaching and learning.
“Over these three years, SUMAS has witnessed a lot of infrastructural development, bordering on transformation, given our 10 industrial boreholes, we have so greatly improved on water reticulation that we are now a water self-sufficient little community, with steady power supply.
“SUMAS started with 23 programmes, but we have added more programmes and we started with 661 students, but, today, we have over 4,198 students,” he said.
Ogbonna thanked the Enugu State governor for his huge support and commitment in making the university a great institution.
The highlight of the occasion was the cutting of the cake for the 3rd Founders Day Celebration of SUMAS.
SUMAS was founded and established in 2022 by the administration of former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
He conceived the institution to increase access to medical education and services in the Enugu North Senatorial District.
