Enugu State Government has expressed commitment to improving the existing facilities and securing accreditation for the programs offered at the only State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Igbo-Eno, inherited by the state Governor ,Dr. Peter Mbah from the previous administration of Rt.Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Pix1, : Dr Jaye (R)
Pix2: VC, Prof James Ogbonna(3rd L) Dr Jaye (3td R)with Principal officers of SUMAS
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaye, disclosed that on Friday while speaking with Newsmen after a tour of the facilities at the University.
Dr. Jaye, who expressed happiness that the young Specialized University ,located along Obollor-Afor-Orba expressway,Enugu state, which has it’s pioneer students currently in 200 level, started big. He lauded the vision of locating the University at Igbo-Eno, saying that it was strategically located to serve both people from Enugu state, Benue and Kogi states.
The Special Adviser said the purpose of the visit was to inspect the facilities on ground, take note of the challenges of the University and report to the State Governor, Dr Peter Mbah, for his administration’s interventions.
He said the State Governor has interest in the University and will offer all the needed support to bring the University to an enviable height.
He said, ” We went to the only State University of Medical and Applied Sciences Igbo-Eno. It was one of the good projects of the State Government. His Excellency inherited from the past administration and His Excellency threw his weight on them.
“We went to see how we will secure accreditation for the programs offered in the University Our findings showed that for starting of a University, they did well. For the Medical school to have first set, second set, I must say , it is good . We will help them and push for accreditation, improve security , provide additional facilities, recruit more manpower ,fix the perimeter fence”, he said. The SPA added that the University needs , quarters for the staff ,official vehicles for Principal officers among others .
Dr. Jaye who was on the visit with a 10-man team including his staff and a Project Development Implementation (PDI) official, mentioned some challenges the University was faced with ,assuring that the state Governor will intervene and get them fixed . ” We will make sure that SUMAS stands. What we found shows that this Government has a good intention by putting it’s weight on the University.”
Pix- The meeting session
He said there was an urgent need to appoint .a Chief Medical Director (CMD) for the Teaching Hospital, adding that it will help the growth of the Teaching Hospital.
The SPA applauded the University for running 23 Courses. ” This is a great innovation, something good for us,” he said.
Before the tour of the facilities, Dr Jaye and his team met with the Vice Chancellor, Prof James Ogbonna, and some management team of the University, where he was briefed on the progress and challenges of the institution.
Pix- Medical center
Pix 3- Teaching Hospital nearly completed
Pix: SPA on health,Dr Yomi Jaye( m) interacting with SUMAS Principal officers during the facility tour
The Vice- Chancellor said the University has Six Faculties, Basic Clinical, Basic Medical Sciences, Allied Health Sciences, Pharmacy Science ,Applied and Natural Sciences, Engineering and Built Environment.
Each faculty, he said , has 36 offices, 8-12 classrooms ,laboratories, demonstration room, conveniences among others. They have two hostels( male and female) Information Communications Technology (ICT) e- Library and others
Prof Ogbonna said the National University Commission (NUC) has assured that the admission quota for some programmes will be increased hence, the need for more facilities, saying ,”Our vision is to make this place. a centre of Excellence.”
Earlier, Dr Jaye advised the University authority to publicize their activities, organize programmes, and invite people from outside, so that people will know about the University.These he said, will attract partners.
The facility tour covered the Medical center, six faculties of the University, hostels, laboratories, demonstration rooms, the University Teaching Hospital buildings ,nearly completion, the over 90 meters perimeter fence that fell among others.He assured the fence will be fixed without delay and urgent actions will be taken to address other issues
Author: Maureen Ikpeama