…Targets College Library, Computer Based Test rooms.
Nurses Across the Borders International, an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (UN-ECOSOC) has pledged support to the Edo State College of Nursing, Benin City.
The internationally recognized Nurses group which is the first NGO from Nigeria to be granted Observer Status by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change-UNFCCC stated that the support will come in form of equipping the College Library and the Computer Based Test rooms of the College of Nursing Sciences.
The Executive President/CEO of the organization, Pastor Peters Osawaru Omoragbon made the pledge on behalf of the Nurses when he paid a courtesy visit to the college in Benin City recently as part of the activities to mark the International Day for Nurses and Midwives which is normally celebrated every May 5 and 12 annually.
According to a Press Release titled ‘Edo State College of Nursing Sciences: Centre of Academic Excellence’, Pastor Omoragbon commended the Government of Edo State under the leadership of Mr Godwin Obaseki for upgrading the standard of the health institution both in physical infrastructure and well qualified academic staff headed by the Provost, Dr. Patricia Ukaigwe.
In the words of Pastor Omoragbon, “Honestly, I am taken aback at what I am seeing now in a school that was closed down for years due to poor infrastructure and low level of academic staff. By what I see now, this place is comparable to international standards.
“This college is the best centre for Nursing Education in Nigeria today. I make bold to say so, because, I am a Nurse leader and transverse the length and breadth of Nigeria visiting schools of nursing and universities providing courses on nursing education, I have not seen anything like this. As a nurse and indigene of this state, I am proud that, this centre of excellence is sited in Edo State,” he said.
Omoragbon thanked the Provost of the institution, who had to relocate from the United States of America to head the institution for her sacrifice and prayed for God’s protection over her and her family.
The released disclosed that Pastor Omoragbon was taken round the entire structures of the College and met with all the faculty staff and lecturers.
In her response, Dr. Ukaigwe, thanked Pastor Omoragbon for his unscheduled visit and reminisced over all the activities the Nigerian nurses and midwives from the Diaspora have been doing with the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria for almost two decades now in terms of medical mission through ‘give-back-to-the community’ project.
Ukaigwe also used the opportunity to thank the Governor of Edo State for appointing her as the head of the institution. She stated that she was surprised that, the Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, could employ her amongst all the other good candidates that applied, even though she is not from Edo State, she added that such action was a demonstration of the Governor’s resolve for excellence devoid of tribalism or nepotism.
She also expressed her readiness to give her best by sparing no effort in producing qualified nurses and midwives that can compete with other international colleagues in service delivery.
Ukaigwe thanked the Registrar and Secretary General, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for accrediting the facility for nursing education.
At the end of the courtesy visit, which was equally attended by the immediate past Director of Nursing Services, Edo State, Mrs Hossanna Enunwaonye, Pastor Omoragbon who is equally the President, Diaspora Nurses Association of Nigeria and Director for International Liaison, Nigerian Nurses Charitable Association, United Kingdom, promised to engage all the Nigerian Diaspora nurses and midwives to ensure that, the pledges by his organisation are fulfilled and looked forward to future academic collaboratio
