The PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Port Harcourt, the first indigenous private university located in the state have received a N500 million boost from the Rivers State Government.
The gift, announced by Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Friday, will be used to address the challenge of health care and medical personnel in the state.
The governor also promised the sponsorship of 100 indigent students from the state in the new institution yearly for a period of five years.
The governor, who stated that the Rivers State government has invested more in health care and medical education in the state, said with two faculty of Medical Sciences in two prominent universities in the state, Rivers will soon become hub for medical training and certification of doctors.
He said “During our campaign we promised to address the challenge of health care and medical personnel in the state. To run our healthcare programmes, we established at the first time faculty of Medicine in Rivers State university.
“The addition of PAMO University of Medical Sciences into the State medical universities comes with expounded opportunities for our young ones to qualified professionals in medical field of their passion and contribute to this state idea of educational system.
“With two faculty of Medical Sciences in two universities, Rivers State will soon become a medical hub for training and certification of medical doctors and health professionals in Nigeria and beyond.
“We are glad to have PUMS as beneficiaries of this new partnership and to demonstrate our commitment, therefore Rivers State Government has approved a grant of N500 million to support the development of the university.
“In addition, the state government will also enter into memorandum of understanding with PUMS where we will be sponsoring 100 Rivers State students yearly fir five years.”
In his address, the newly installed Chancellor of the university, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, noted that the inability of the institutions in Nigeria to meet up with medical related programmes stand, gave birth to PAMO University of Medical Sciences.
Abubakar, who stressed that less than 5℅ of qualified candidates are able to gain admission into medical programmes, said, “Over the last decade, Nigerians has witnessed a phenomenal growth of private universities arising from the inability of public universities to cater for the demand of applicants seeking admission every year.
“Recent reports have shown that less than 5℅ of qualified candidates are able to gain admission into medical Programmes in all Nigerian universities. PAMO University of Medical Sciences will strive to address all these challenges as it aims to achieve global excellence in terms of teaching, research and community services.
“This university is set to produce graduates in different fields of medicine who are not only competent in their professional but also entrepreneurial, ICT driven and that are worthy in character and learning”.
Earlier, in his speech, proprietor of the institution and former Governor of Rivers State, Dr Peter Odili, exalted God for the inspiration to the successful completion and commencement of the school.
Odili applauded the Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof Abubakar Rasheed for his aspiration that set up the institution, Federal Government for providing them the licence to operate, the State Governor Wike for his support and encouragement, and all those who have in several ways contributed to the success of the project, which he said is a historical one.
The former governor, who noted that PAMO University of Medical Sciences is the first private university of medical sciences in Nigeria, said, “It has set a record in being the university that took the shortest time to plan and establish. PAMO University of Medical Sciences in the first private university of any type to be established in Rivers State.
“PUMS will produce doctors and medical personnel that will make a difference towards their patients, and tackle the challenge of poor Medical education in the country.
“The managements of the PUMS are determined to ensure that the vision and mission of founding ab institution that will make a difference and set a new tone in medical education and they will stand out in the discipline way they will apply their knowledge in the care of their patients. They will be humane and empathetic and treat their patients with dignity.”
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