The Akwa Ibom State government has so far raised N3.2billion for the establishment of a teaching hospital for the state university to be located in Awa, Onna Local Government of the state.
The project, which is supported by the BUA Group of Companies and other private sector participants, will see the General Hospital, Awa, being transformed into a teaching hospital for the Akwa Ibom State University.
The highest donation of N2.5 billion came from the BUA, while the Rivers State government announced a donation of N600million with another donation of N100 million coming from the management of Decision Group of Companies as announced by its Managing Director, Akan Udofia.
“It is my pleasure to let you know that we have come with the initial tranche payment of N2.5 billion to the Akwa Ibom State government. This donation is in line with the vision and aspiration of the governor to provide Akwa Ibom with international standard in healthcare services; we know he has done a lot in primary and secondary healthcare interventions, the mission here is to provide state-of-the-art facilities and where people would be happy to come to Akwa Ibom to get the best quality of healthcare, this is why we have keyed into this vision,’’ an official of BUA Group said.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who also announced the donation of the Rivers State government, while laying the foundation of the project, praised the state government for its decision to train health professionals for its healthcare delivery programme, adding that training of doctors by the state government was always limited in federal-owned medical schools.
Wike, who recounted the experience of the Rivers State government in establishing a similar teaching hospital and a medical school in Port Harcourt, described such a project as capital intensive and promised to assist the Akwa Ibom State government as he announced a donation of N600 million.
“I identify with people who I can benefit from sharing ideas with. I go to a place where a man is doing well, I don’t need to envy him, rather I have to ask him questions, ‘how did you go about this?’ and that will encourage me to be better in my own place. As I came into Akwa Ibom State today, from the airport, you can see that there is a difference, I do not go to places I cannot say anything, so I try to identify myself with the performing governor of Akwa Ibom state,’’ he said.
Earlier, Wike had performed the groundbreaking of a petrochemical factory in Eastern Obolo Local Government where he described the project as capable of transforming the economy of Akwa Ibom State by creating thousands of jobs for the people.
The governor also inaugurated a 13.2-kilometre road linking part of Onna Local Government with Etinan Local Government Area during his visit to Akwa Ibom State as part of the commissioning of projects to mark the 6th anniversary of the present administration.
Earlier, Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State said the teaching hospital project was to “train our people, maintain the standard; we must train our people and the only way you can train your people in the medical field is through a teaching hospital.”
He thanked the BUA Group for the support, adding that the N2.5billion already announced was part of the N5billion the Group has promised in addition to the partnership in establishing a refinery in which an agreement has already been signed.
“We are talking about the largest refinery, we have signed the agreement, we have gone far, and very soon, we will move to site, the reason we are delaying that is that we had to increase the capacity of the refinery; honestly, if know a friend and you enjoyed the friendship and the friend is standing by you to help your people, that is a true friend.”
According to the governor, the teaching hospital will be built by his friends, adding that it would be a world class training facility.
