Gov Peter Mbah of Enugu State has urged graduates of College of Nursing Science and Health Technology Nsukka (CNSHTN) to be good ambassadors wherever they find themselves.
Mbah made the call in Nsukka on Friday during the maiden convocation of the college in which 264 bagged National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and professional certificates of the institution.
“I encourage you to go forth as good ambassadors of the college and state, by being agents of change, compassionate, disciplined and always committed to excellence, “he said.
Mbah, the visitor of the College, was represented by Prof George Ugwu, Commissioner for Health in Enugu State.
He said that the state government had approved the procurement of more classroom seats for the college in line with its needs.
The governor said he had also approved renovation of a building in Nsukka General Hospital for the Nursing Department of the college.
Mbah said that many health workers in the country now wanted to work in Enugu State because it was the highest paying state.
“Your dedication to quality training, discipline, and innovation has positioned this College as a growing centre of excellence in nursing and allied health education.
”The Ministry of Health recognises and deeply appreciates your contributions and remains committed to supporting the continued growth and development of this institution,” he said.
The governor said it was because of the importance attached to the college that his administration since 2023 placed the institution on regular monthly subventions to ensure it had smooth academic and administrative operations.
“The state is also providing critical interventions across other health training institutions.
“We have upgraded and secured the re-accreditation of the ESUT Teaching Hospital Parklane School of Nursing and the Awgu School of Midwifery to full College status.
“This upgrade has significantly increased the number of students admitted annually and expanded the range of academic programmes and courses now offered in these institutions.
“Enugu State has made substantial investments at the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, aimed at expanding medical education, infrastructure, and training opportunities.
“This intervention is a deliberate and strategic effort to strengthen the State’s capacity to produce competent health professionals in response to the widening human resource gaps caused by the ‘Japa syndrome’ and the global scarcity of health workers.
” The vision is to ensure that Enugu State not only retains a strong and skilled health workforce but also becomes a leading hub for the production of world-class healthcare professionals,” he said.
Mbah extended his warmest congratulations to the graduates for their hard work, sacrifice and commitment to their studies.
” Your journey to this day reflects hard work, sacrifice, long hours of clinical practice, and unwavering determination.
” I urge you to uphold the values you have acquired through your service, empathy, integrity, discipline, and professionalism. The health profession is a sacred calling to serve humanity.
“Let your actions, character, and competence reflect the quality of training you have received here.
“Ministry of Health will continue to collaborate with this College and other institutions to ensure that our health workforce remains skilled, motivated, and globally competitive.
“I extend my appreciation to parents and guardians who by investing in their children and wards education made today’s convocation a reality, ”he said.
Speaking, Prof Loretta Ukwuaaba, Chairman of the College Governing Council said the college produced competent health career professionals across different specialties.
She attributed the feat to the commitment of Mbah and complementary efforts of the college board, management and staff towards the growth of the institution.
Ukwuaaba, while congratulating the graduates, advised them to carry the value, excellence, integrity, discipline and the service which the college had instilled in them wherever they found themselves.
Earlier in a remark, Dr Eddy Egbara, Provost of the college, said the institution started in 1976 as School of Public Health and was elevated to a college on Feb. 10, 2023.
“Today’s convocation is a realisation of the long-standing vision and testimony of resilience, faith and dedication of all who had contributed to the growth of the institution.
“We have finally reached the day our founding fathers longed to see when this college was established, “he said.
The provost expressed special appreciation to the governor for his kindness and special attention to the college, which had made landmark achievements in the institution possible.
“It is as a result of the special love for the college that his administration since 2023 placed the institution on regular monthly subventions to ensure smooth academic and administrative operations in the college.
“Recently, the state government approved the procurement of more classroom seats to solve the seat needs of the college as well as renovation of a building in Nsukka General Hospital for Nursing Department of the College.
”The college will continue to be grateful to Gov Mbah’s administration as well as strive to sustain academic excellence in the college to justify government’s huge investment in the institution,” he said.
Egbara listed some of the achievements of his administration in the college to include raising the student population to 720 as against 485 on arrival.
“We secured approval and establishment of four additional programmes in Pharmacy technicians, public health technology, medical image X-Ray Technicians and Epidemiology and Disease Control.
“We got allocation paper of the college after survey and paid for the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), secured full accreditation for Community Health Extension Workers (CHEW and JCHEW) among others, ” he said.
NAN correspondent reports that there were loud cheers and applause when the commissioner for health who represented the governor announced that all the challenges of the college as listed by the provost were captured in 2026 Enugu State estimated budget presented by Gov Mbah to Enugu State House of Assembly recently.
The provost congratulated the graduates but urged them to see their graduation as a beginning to achieve higher standard in life.
“To our graduates, go forth and make a difference, uphold your profession and bring honours to this institution wherever you go.
“To our staff and stakeholders, let this achievement inspire us to continue believing in the transformative power of education and service, “he said.
The provost commended the Governing Council of the college led by Prof. Ukwuaaba for its constant support and encouragement, and the management, staff and students who contributed in one way or the other to the success of the college since inception.
NAN correspondent reports that Prof Rufina Ayogu, from Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Nigeria Nsukka, presented a lecture on “Building Healthier Communities, Integrating Character, Courage and Commitment”.
The college, at the event, gave awards of excellence to some Nigerians who had distinguished themselves in their different professions.
