German institution signs MoU to design, operate medical varsity in Akwa Ibom

The University of Hamburg [UKE], Germany and Thompson & Grace Medical University [TGMU), at the weekend, signed a partnership agreement in Uyo.

The memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was to “design and operate the medical facilities,” which would be located at Afaha-Obong, in Abak Local Council Area of the state.

While the Dean of the Medical Faculty of the University of Hamburg [UKE], Prof. Uwe Koch-Gromus signed on behalf of his institution, Dr. Isaac Thompson Amos signed for his group.

Others who witnessed the signing were the German envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Schlagheck, Vice Dean of the medical faculty, Prof. Ansgar Wilhelm Lohse, foremost pediatrician and former Medical Director of the Altona Children’s Hospital, Prof. Frank Nobert Riedet and CEO of RES Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs and Consultant to the project from Berlin, Germany, Mr. Armin Huttenlocher.

Others included Projects/Technical Services of TGIL, Mr. Ekemini Amos and President/CEO of XEQ Solutions, Plano, Texas, U.S.A. Dr. Emmanuel Umoh. Earlier, the two sides held a seminar, “How Education, Health and Medicine Can Be Transformed to Benefit Nigeria and Africa.”

Amos explained that the partnership would enable both parties to jointly “develop and provide structure, curriculum and practical programme, as well as administrative and management processes for the medical varsity and specialty hospital.

He stressed that the facilities would also enjoy “training and support in capacity building in the areas of medical education, clinical research and healthcare delivery management and administration.”

According to the proprietor, the partnership would further enable the health facilities to benefit from “increased number of competent physicians and professionals and facilities to meet the health needs of a rapidly changing Nigerian society.”

Koch-Gromus said the UKE, located in Hamburg, Germany signed the MoU with T&GIL, with head office in Lagos: “For the development of academic cooperation in international education in areas of mutual interest and expertise.”

A Professor of Paediatrics and former Chief Medical Officer of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Emmanuel Ekanem, said the idea of a medical university was in order.