Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike on Friday announced a N500 million grant to Pamo University of Medical Sciences, Port Harcourt.
He that the medical scholarship offered to Rivers students by his administration is a deliberate policy intended to produce well trained professionals that will enhance quality healthcare delivery beyond Rivers.
Speaking at the 4th Matriculation ceremony of PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Wike stated that in the last three years, 100 Rivers students are awarded scholarship yearly to study medicine and other related courses at PAMO University , which is creating access to education for most indigent students.
He said the State government is impressed with the founder and Pro-Chancellor of PAMO University, Dr. Peter Odili for the establishment of the institution that has developed within a very remarkable time to be a center of excellence in medical education with adequate capacity to produce medical doctors, pharmacists, medical technologists, and other healthcare professionals for the State and the country.
Governor Wike said such initiative by Dr. Odili and indeed any Rivers indigene, is worthy of support from the state government. To this end, he announced additional N500 Million grant to enable management of the University to put in place the necessary educational infrastructure.
“We have decided to further support the growth and development of this University with the yet another grant of N500,000,000.00 (five hundred million naira) only. As we all know; the promise of education is better life just as no healthcare system can be effective without adequate number of qualified and skillful medical doctors and other related professionals, which our State, Nigeria and the world over are in dire need of.
“This was the reason we instituted the special scholarship scheme to cater for not less than 100 indigenous students of this University yearly for five consecutive circle of admissions with effect from the very first set of students.
“This special scholarship programme has covered four admission circles and benefitted 490 Rivers State students who are pursuing various medical courses in this university from inception to date.”
Governor Wike observed that if Dr Odili, a former governor of Rivers State, did not establish PAMO University, all the students that matriculated on Friday and others who are already at different levels of their studies would not have had the chance to pursue their educational dreams due to the admission crisis that continues to plague and frustrate the immediate transition of most youths from secondary to tertiary education.
The governor enjoined all the 490 Rivers State students who are benefiting from the scholarship and others to be diligent and committed to hard work in order to achieve academic success.
