From Tony John, Port Harcourt
Governor Nyesom Wike has said medical students who are recipients of the Rivers State government scholarship will sign agreement to serve the state for a given number of years after graduation.
The governor said the policy would enable the state government reap the benefits of investing huge resources in training medical students of the state extraction.
Wike stated this at the inauguration of a 500-bed capacity hostel for medical students of Rivers State University (RSU).
He said it would be unfair to spend huge sum of money on training medical students and lose them almost immediately on graduation to other states or countries.
“What we have decided to do now, because let us not train these children and they run away. They must serve the state first. So, we are bringing up the policy that if we give scholarship to you and train you to become a doctor, you must have a number of years you must also serve the state.”
He said they would have to contribute quality service and add value to the medical sector in the state in order to justify the investment on them.
“We are not training you to go and serve other people. We are training you to serve Rivers State. So, after those number of years you have served the state, you can go to where you want to go. You must sign agreement with Rivers State government that you must also serve the state before you run away. I am not saying you must die here.
“Some of you will be married outside. But, tell your husband too there is an obligation I owe (Rivers State) having trained me. Let him come and stay with you here, then, after those number of years, you people can move to wherever you want to move.”
Wike also assured that outstanding scholarship expenses would be paid to the institution before he leaves office.