The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, has identified a deficit of health professionals as a critical global challenge.
He stated this yesterday at the graduation/matriculation ceremony of the Archbishop Charles Heerey College of Health Science and Technology, Nkpor, Anambra State.
The former Anambra state governor, who gave a N10 million cheque to the management of the health institution to support the upgrading of the facilities, commended the management for their efforts in training health professionals.
He urged the students to be committed to their studies as potential “global citizens.”
Obi commended the management for the quality of training the institution is giving to the students saying that on several occasions, he had met some graduates of the health institution in America and Britain who introduced themselves to him as graduates of the college when he (Obi) was governor of Anambra State.
He also narrated that he had encountered others in London and other countries who also approached him to introduce themselves in similar ways.
Obi, however, expressed disappointment that despite the importance of health workers to the promotion of the wellbeing of the people, political leaders in Nigeria do not prioritise support for health institutions.
He stated, for instance, that it was wrong that no other administration in the state since he left office about 12 years ago had supported the health institution.
The provost of the college, Dr Maria Ugochukwu Ozo, eulogised Obi for the great support he gave the health institution, stating that the institution was barely a year old when Obi was inaugurated as governor of Anambra State in 2006, while the college was established in 2005.
She said that in addition to donating two coaster buses and building a female hostel, Obi gave other supports that have helped the college greatly.
She said that within the past 20 years of the establishment of the health institution, it has graduated over 700 health workers who are currently practising in different parts of the world, including America, London and Canada.
As a mark of gratitude, the management presented to the former LP presidential candidate an award of excellence.
