By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governors Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, his Enugu State counterpart, Peter Mbah, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, his counterpart at Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhhamad Alli Pate, the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Nigerians in Diaapora Commission (NIDCOM), Dr Abike Dabiri-Erewa on Wednesday called on foreign based medical experts of Nigerian to consider deploying their skills and expertise to boosting the health sector in a bid to reverse medical tourism.
Noting that many experts are keying into the idea of giving back to the society through their expertise and Medical profession, the signatories promise relevant support to ensure that willing Nigerians in Diaspora play good roles to help improve the health sector.
The speakers made the remarks in their separate speeches at the Commissioning of Block C, the first of six blocks of the student’s hostel building project of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI).
The building was donated by a member of the 1985 Alumni set of the College, Dr Philip Ozuah.
Ozuah, a physician, educator and healthcare Executive currently serve as the President and CEO of Montefiore Medicine, the umbrella organisation for Montefiore Health System and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA.
Corenews reports that Ozuah had on August 1, 2022 donated the sum of $1million USD for the project.
Speakers at the event lauded Ozuah’s generosity and encouraged other Nigerians in the diaspora to emulate his example.
Both Governor Makinde and Governor Mbah were represented at the event by their deputies: Bayo Lawal and Ifeanyi Ossai respectively.
The governors urged other Diasporians to emulate and contribute to the upliftment of humanity, saying that institutions all over the world live on the strength of benevolence and generosity of their alumnus and urge for increased support.
Highlighting the challenges facing medical education in Nigeria, including limited capacity and brain drain, Lawal emphasized the need for stakeholders to work together to expand facilities and train more medical professionals.
Ossai on his part, while commending Dr. Ozuah for his philanthropic gesture said the state governments are ready to partner NIDCOM in encouraging other Nigerians in the diaspora to follow suit in a bid to improving the medical and health sector while also tackling the japa menace among health practitioners.
In his remarks, Minister for Education, Dr Maruf Alausa, described the Philip Ozuah hostel as a symbol of unwavering commitment to the growth of Nigeria’s health care system and a powerful testament to the enduring values of philanthropy, patriotism, and service to humanity.
Dr. Alausa, who was represented by the director in the office of the Directorate Senior Secondary Education, Mr. Adewale Aderibigbe, said the contribution reflects a spirit of giving that transcends borders and reminds individuals that roots remain firmly planted in Nigeria and therefore urged that the hostel should serve as a beacon of hope, service, and excellence.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who spoke through Dr. Jimoh Salaudeen, the director of health services, said that the donation would compliment the effort of the federal government to increase the admission quota of all health workers by the university to address the incessant brain drain and upgrading facilities required by the students in the university.
Chairman Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission, Honorable (Dr) Abike Dabiri-Erewa speaking at the commissioning said, doctors working with other healthcare professionals in the country can change the face of medical tourism and reverse medical tourism.
She recounted that, in the last four years, about 10 hospitals have been built by diaspora doctors, with one just commissioned in Abuja, the African Medical Center of Excellence, an indication that Nigerian doctors are returning to Nigeria to give back.
She said, “I’m sure our doctors in the diaspora can turn it around. We can have a situation where people come to Nigeria for their health needs rather than going out. However, who do you meet when you go out? A lot of them are Nigerian doctors.
“So working with them, I’m sure that can happen. We can change the face of medical tourism and reverse medical tourism in the diaspora by working with our health practitioners at home. We also believe that if they come together collectively, they can build a medical center of excellence. Because we have the capacity, we have the numbers, all we need is the structural organisation to make it happen.”
The Consul General of the Nigerian Mission in New York also commended Dr. Ozuah for his generosity and encouraged other Nigerians in the diaspora to engage with the mission. He recounted the various ways the donor has been supportive of the Nigeria project while also flying the country’s flag high through his philanthropic gestures.
UI’s Vice chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale celebrated Prof. Ozuah’s legacy and his commitment to his roots, saying his decision to champion and substantially fund the hostel project reflects his unwavering belief in giving back and empowering the next generation of medical professionals.
According to him, quality accommodation is a critical component of academic success; having a comfortable, secure, and conducive living environment is not a luxury, but a necessity.
“The success of this project should serve as a clarion call to other alumni and friends of the university; there is still much work to be done to advance our infrastructure and academic offerings. Let us emulate Professor Ozuah’s example by investing in initiatives that will sustain UI’s leadership in education and research.
President of the Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association World Wide (ICOMAA -WW), Emeritus Professor Samuel Omokhodion, said the Philip Ozuah hostel block at the cost of $ 1 million donors would house 168 students and stand as a testament to the shared vision and unwavering determination of the college alumni.
He therefore, urged more donors to support the completion of the remaining blocks of hostel to accommodate over 500 occupants in response to the requirements set forth by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to house all clinical students on the hospital premises.
