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Banigo Condoles UNIPORT Over Student’s Death …UPTH To Probe Incident
Deputy Governor of the Rivers State, Dr. Ipalibo Harry Banigo has condoled with the Management and Students of the University of Port Harcourt for the untimely demise of a 200 level Theater Arts Female Student, Miss Kelechi Precious.
Dr. Banigo who was reacting to the unfortunate incident and circumstances surrounding the death of the female student, described it as a wakeup call on Hospital Authorities, Nurses and Doctors in both public and private sectors to be alive to their responsibilities to patients.
The Deputy Governor noted with sadness that such an incident happened at a time when there have been repeated calls by the Governor Wike-Led Government for Medical Practitioners to always show compassion in their Profession.
Dr. Banigo prayed God to grant the family of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss while calling on the Students to remain calm and desist from taking laws into their hands.
She also called on the Federal Government and the Authority of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital to investigate the circumstances that led to the death of the student to prevent future occurrences.
Meanwhile, the management of the University of Port Harcourt teaching Hospital (UPTH) has said that the circumstances that led to the death of a female student of the University of Port Harcourt, Miss Kelechi Promise would be properly investigated.
The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UPTH, Prof. Aaron Ojule, who disclosed this during a chat with newsmen, said the management has met with relevant stakeholders to examine the cause of the unfortunate incident.
Ojule said the incident had generated great public interest with wild allegations against the Hospital over the death, but assured that any staff found culpable as alleged will face full punitive measures in line with extent civil service rules and professional code of ethics.
The CMD, who commiserated with the family of the deceased and the authorities of the University of Port Harcourt, called for restraint from all parties on the issue until the exact facts surrounding the incident are unraveled to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
The CMD, also stated that the hospital, which was established to carry out tertiary medical functions, is presently over-subscribed, and now carry out secondary medical functions with overwhelming challenges of attending to about 700 to 1000 patients daily.
He, therefore, called on the government to establish more medical centres and facilities to cater for the teeming health needs of the people.
Meanwhile, workers of the hospital have abandoned their duty posts over threats to their lives following violent protests by the students and disturbances that trailed the death of the Uniport student.
According to the CMD, “This has resulted in added suffering of innocent patients in our wards”.
He appealed to the students to stop further threat to the lives and property of UPTH staff, “to avoid complete shutdown of the hospital, which could lead to further sufferings on the part of those who patronize our services”.
He also called on staff of the hospital to return to their duty posts and resume normal duties immediately in the interest of the patients as the security situation has returned to normal.
While reassuring the commitment of the hospital toward improved health care delivery services to the public, the CMD said the management will carry out a proper assessment and evaluation of the extent of damage incurred during the protest.
It would be recalled that students of the University of Port Harcourt had Monday embarked on a protest, damaging some facilities, of the hospital to register their discontent over the death of their female colleague.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the nomination of four new members to the Governing Council of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).
The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement yesterday, said the appointment is to fill existing vacancies and strengthen the board’s capacity.
The statement said the approved nominees are Mr. Olusegun Omosehin of the National Insurance Commission and Engr. Wole Ogunsanya of the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria.
Tinubu also endorsed the nomination of Sam Onyechi, who represents the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum and Barrister Owei Oyanbo from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
The President encouraged the new members to leverage their expertise and dedication to enhance local content development within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
It added, “The nominations arose from the exit of previous institutional representatives from the Governing Council.
“The NCDMB Governing Council, established under Section 69 of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, 2010, comprises representatives from key institutions.
“These include the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria, the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Content Consultative Forum, and the National Insurance Commission.”
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to construct additional hostels, rehabilitate roads, and enhance power supply in the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT).
NDDC’s Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, disclosed this during a visit to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, yesterday by a delegation from the UNIPORT’s Governing Council.
Ogbuku stated that the NDDC had committed to upgrading facilities at UNIPORT as part of efforts to foster partnership with educational institutions across the Niger Delta.
According to him, the implementation of additional projects at the university forms part of a broader strategy to improve education standards in the region.
“Aside from the construction of new hostel blocks and installation of a 300 KVA solar inverter system, the NDDC will also facilitate more projects in the university.
“The commission will also deploy its engineers to assess the condition of UNIPORT’s roads and hostels for potential rehabilitation,” he said.
Ogbuku noted that upon completion, the projects would add to various initiatives previously undertaken by the commission at the university.
“These and other projects reflect our commitment to actualising President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region,” he added.
He reaffirmed the NDDC’s dedication to fostering development and strengthening partnerships across the region.
Earlier, Sen. Mao Ohuanbunwa, Chairman of UNIPORT’s Governing Council, who led the delegation commended the current leadership of the NDDC for its achievements in accelerating development in the Niger Delta.
He highlighted the university’s infrastructural challenges, noting that it lacked adequate facilities to accommodate its growing student population, and appealed for the NDDC’s support in addressing the shortfall.
“Currently, UNIPORT has a total student population of about 50,000, while its hostel accommodation capacity can only cater for 5,000 students.
“We therefore urge the NDDC to assist in the construction of additional hostels, improve transportation facilities, and facilitate the acquisition of gas turbines to enhance power supply for our students,” Ohuanbunwa pleaded.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIPORT, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, commended NDDC for its impactful projects across the Niger Delta and extended an invitation to the commission to participate in the institution’s forthcoming 50th anniversary celebrations.
The Senate has rejected a motion to rename the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters after the former chairman of the defunct National Electoral Commission, late Prof Humphrey Nwosu.
Nwosu presided over the June 12, 1993, presidential election, which was truncated by the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd).
The election which was won by the late business mogul, Chief MKO Abiola, was adjudged to be the freest and fairest in the electoral history of Nigeria.
The motion to rename INEC after Nwosu was re-sponsored by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe yesterday after lawmakers threw it out last Wednesday.
Abaribe called for posthumous national honours to be conferred on Nwosu in recognition of his role in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.
However, the proposal sparked a heated debate once again, with lawmakers deeply divided over Nwosu’s legacy.
Senator Osita Ngwu acknowledged that Nwosu operated under a military regime, which restricted his ability to announce the results.
He argued that “there was no way he would have announced the results with a gun to his head. That doesn’t change the fact that some of us see him as a hero.”
Senator Austin Akobundu, however, described it as most uncharitable for lawmakers to dismiss Nwosu’s contributions, insisting that he deserved a place in Nigeria’s hall of honour.
On the other hand, several senators like Senator Jimoh Ibrahim dismissed the idea outright, questioning why the Senate should honour someone who failed to announce the results insisting that “nothing should be named after him”.
Senator Cyril Fasuyi argued that history does not reward efforts, but only results.
“As long as he did not announce the result, whether under duress or not, I am against naming INEC headquarters after him,” he submitted.
Also, Senator Sunday Karimi criticised Nwosu for lacking the courage to speak out, while Senator Afolabi Salisu warned that immortalising him would undermine the memory of MKO Abiola, the widely accepted winner of the June 12, 1993, annulled election.
“Any attempt to do anything beyond a one-minute silence is to rubbish Abiola’s legacy,” he tendered.
After intense deliberation, most senators rejected the motion through a voice vote.
They, however, agreed to honour him with a one-minute silence and extend condolences to his family, effectively dismissing the other prayers to immortalise Nwosu.