Governor of Edo State Godwin Obaseki has directed the management of the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences to reassess the admission of one of the students of the institution, Miss Precious Umoru, with a view to determining her suitability or otherwise for nursing and midwifery profession.
Governor Obaseki, according to the commissioner for communication and orientation, Mr Chris Osa Nehikhare, gave the directive following the controversy that trailed the academic advice to withdraw studentship given to Miss Umoru by the management of the college.
Umoru, who applied for admission into the institution and participated in the Computer Based Test (CBT), passed it and was offered admission, however had studentship withdrawn after she was found to have some health challenges that were considered as impairments to her desire to practice nursing and midwifery.
Explaining the circumstances that led to the advice to withdraw issued to the student, Professor Patricia Ukagwue, the provost of the college, said that when Umoru reported in the school for resumption, and was allocated a room on the second floor of the hostel, the student complained that she could not climb the stairs.
Upon closer examination, Ukagwue added that it was discovered that the student “has some physical challenges as she has tremor and shakes such that she could not stand very well.”
“Nursing and midwifery profession is a strenuous profession that requires physical fitness. The practice has a lot to do with the physical stability and health of the practitioners and this particular individual does not have such attributes”, the provost pointed out.
She said the college management summoned the student’s parents and explained the situation to them.
“We observed that her case would require some more detailed medical attention and possibly surgery. We told her and her parents this and advised her to seek further medical attention after which we would advise her on another course of study she could pursue. We took that step because we would not want to programme her for failure as her condition will not allow her to practice nursing “, Professor Ukagwue emphasised.
The provost who admitted that Umoru’s physical condition was not noted at the stage of interview, said that such could happen in the medical field, adding that what was important was that when the condition was noticed appropriate steps were taken to guide the student and encourage her to seek help.
The provost regretted that rather than heed the counseling of the college management, Miss Umoru decided to take her matter to the public, alleging that she was discriminated against because of her physical challenges.
Ukagwue stated that the development had alerted the college to the need to widen its academic scopes to accommodate students with challenges, regretting however, that until that was done, the institution would not be able to accommodate Umoru as doing that would not only amount to programming her for failure, but could also endanger the lives of the intending patients she might have to attend to.
Nehikhare added that upon learning of the case, Governor Obaseki stepped in and requested that another assessment be conducted , assuring that Miss Umoru would be provided with all necessary support for her condition for the re-assessment exercise.
Nehikhare reaffirmed Governor Obaseki’s avowed commitment to the protection of the rights of all Edo State citizens in particular, and Nigerians at large, adding that in adjudging Umoru’s case, no sentiment would be allowed to come to play.
As part of this process, a preliminary assessment was conducted which had suggested that she might not be able to withstand the physical rigours of midwifery training.
The rescheduled assessment, Nehikhare disclosed, would take place on Thursday April 13, 2023, assuring that the public would be provided with the necessary updates on the exercise.
“We want to assure that the College will not intentionally deny anyone an opportunity to get the best training and capacity enhancement in healthcare services”, Nehikhare re-emphasised.
The management of the College gave an undertaking that should the reassessment exercise reaffirmed the advice to withdraw studentship given to Umoru, the school fee she had earlier paid would be fully refunded.
