Gôvernor Douye Diri of Bagels has advocated for true federalism in Nigeria, saying if true Federalism is practiced, the States could do more for their people.
Diri made the call when he received the Deputy Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakanma, and his team on a two-day inspection and accreditation visit to the state-owned Bayelsa Medical University in Yenogua.
Diri said, “Let me also use this medium to again advocate for true federalism in Nigeria where states pay royalties to the federal government and not the way it is done currently where the centre determines what the states get.
”If federalism is properly practised, our state can do more for our people.”
MDCN, saddled with the responsibility of approving medical programmes in Nigerian universities, has accredited the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme at the state-owned Bayelsa Medical University.
The approval enables the medical students in the university to participate in Part One of the MBBS examination.
Diri thanked the council for its dispassionate assessment of the institution and the administration, saying he was determined to fulfil the mandate of people of the state.
He assured them that more projects would be executed in the institution , adding that issues raised by the council would be addressed before its next visit.
The governor also commended them for setting a high standard for medical schools in Nigeria, saying their efforts have made it possible for Nigeria to graduate quality medical personnel that were highly sought after in the world.
He said: “We thank you for the visit. We are encouraged by your kind words that will spur us to do more.
“I have listened to you and can assure you that the issues raised that need our attention will be attended to before your next visit.
Earlier, Nwakanma, who expressed satisfaction with the progress of the young medical institution, also stated that the MDCN had increased the MBBS admission quota per session from 50 to 100 students.
He added that with the accreditation, BMU would be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Nwankanma lauded the State government and the BMU for their efforts in raising the standard of the institution.
He described as commendable the ownership and funding of two medical schools by the Bayelsa government and urged it to among other requests to revive the BMU teaching hospital project.
Nwankanma also urged the State government to provide buses for the institution, continue to employ qualified manpower, build more laboratories as well as complete the satellite campus at Sampou.
The MDCN top official equally commended Governor Diri for the visible developmental strides of his administration, particularly in the area of infrastructure.
Other members of the MDCN delegation were Prof. B. Jiburum, Prof. Sanusi Ode, Prof. Blessing Idinfe and Prof. S. Alayemi.
The team also had Prof. B. Afolayan, Prof. Nuhu Dakurm, Prof. Yusuf Haruna and Prof M. Jamoa as well as Mrs. Ayobami Ismail and Bello Misbahu, both of the MDCN Medical Education Unit.
The BMU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu was accompanied by the Registrar, Dr. Felicia Akusu, during the courtesy visit.
