The Pro Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Mr Dele Adesina (SAN) and others

The Pro Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Mr Dele Adesina (SAN) recently decried the poor funding of tertiary education in Nigeria, saying that it poses the greatest threat to the production of manpower in Nigeria.

Adesina made this remarks at the 10th anniversary of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. “No country can grow faster than its manpower training institutions, he warns.

The Pro Chancellor particularly referred to the poor funding of Teaching Hospitals across the country calling on governments both at the states and Federal levels to make the funding of these health institutions a priority.

He said: “Talking about funding of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria and tertiary institutions generally, it is to be noted that the greatest obstacle to the growth of our universities including teaching hospitals is lack of adequate funding. One wonders whether this is due to lack of proper appreciation of an efficient and effective institutions or lack of setting priorities right. Only recently, the Pro Chancellor of University of Lagos, Dr Wale Babalakin SAN made similar comments”.

He particularly appealed to Ekiti State indigenes home and abroad to put political sentiments apart and join hands to develop the Teaching Hospial. “To us in Ekiti State, EKSUTH and indeed EKSU are our very own and we must join hands to build and make them enviable institutions. This is a responsibility for all of us home and abroad irrespective of our political sympathy. I believe that politics must give way to a common purpose and that common purpose in my opinion is how to make Ekiti great. What increases a man is the value he is able to add to the society. The world is looking for somebody who will do something, not somebody who will explain why he did not do anything”.

Earlier in his comments, the Chairman of Board of Management EKSUTH thanked the state governor, Ayodele Fayose for his support in securing the accreditation for the Ekiti State University College of Medicine. He urged both management and staff to continue to work hard for the success of the institution. “Success is continuous and we cannot afford to rest on our oars”, he said.

The Medical Director of EKSUTH,Dr Kolawole Ogundipe gave a brief history of the institution and thanked both staff and management for the success it has recorded since inception. “I am glad to say that this institution has been fortunate in the stability in the management, with the Chief Medical Director having enough time to actualize his programmes.

Dr Ogundipe stated further: “The hospital can boast of crops of dedicated staff both in the clinical and non –clinical departments. I make bold to say that EKSUTH members of staff are among the best and most passionate any teaching hospital can have. The Schools of Nursing and Midwifery were given unlimited grace to apply merit in the admission of students. Little wonder then that the schools have continued to record 100 per cent success in the final qualifying examinations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria”.

Present at the occasion are the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi, Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, Vice-Chancellor,EKSU, Prof Samuel Oye Bandele, Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, Prof A,B.O Omotosho, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr Kola Oluwawole and a host of other dignitaries.