Jubilation as Ugwuanyi opens Enugu medical sciences varsity 

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, made history as he unveiled the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), Igbo-Eno, Enugu State established by his administration.

SUMAS is the second university to be established in Nsukka zone (Enugu North Senatorial District) after the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN) attracted to the area by the late first President of Nigeria, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Ugwuanyi, who is the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Enugu North Senatorial District, unveiled the medical university before  he delivered the 5th Adada Lecture organised by Association of Nsukka Professors (ANP), titled “Leadership, Education and Inclusive Development.”

SUMAS is one of the landmark achievements of Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration aimed at increasing access to quality medical university education for the teeming youths. The aim is also to provide accessible, quality and affordable healthcare service delivery to the people of Enugu State and beyond, develop the rural areas, create job opportunities and ensure economic empowerment. 

Also in attendance at the opening of the university amid jubilation were the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Edward Ubosi; the Chief Judge, Justice Afojulu Raymond Ozoemena; representative of Justice Chima Centus Nweze of the Supreme Court; PDP governorship candidate in the state, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah; his running mate, Ifeanyi Ossai; the Vice Chancellor of the medical university, Prof. James Ogbonna and other principal officers, among others. 

At a function shortly after the event, Governor Ugwuanyi, who sounded fulfilled, said: “After Zik (Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe), I m the second person who brought university to Nsukka land.”

Delivering the Adada lecture earlier, Ugwuanyi who gave highlights of his administration’s remarkable achievements in spite of the nation’s economic challenges, said the three concepts of the theme “Leadership, Education and Inclusive Development” were integrated and reflected the true picture of his administration’s policy thrust.

The governor said that his administration, in actualising its objectives, invested heavily on peace and security that is responsible for Enugu’s enviable status as one of the safest and most peaceful states in the country.

“Consequent upon the resolution of the South East Governors Forum, I remain the first governor to constitute and set up Enugu State Forest Guards backed by legislation in addition to the Neighbourhood Watch to check the menace of criminals, especially in our rural communities, which aligns with my policy and emphasis on the development of our rural communities,” he said.

On the theme, Ugwuanyi stressed that the meeting point between leadership, education, and development can neither be noticed nor differentiated because education “empowers people to take advantage of opportunities, information, and life skill that they need to realize their potentials.”

“Education builds capacity and increases knowledge that enables one to acquire leadership skills. Therefore, leadership, education, and development are mutually related.

“A productive and viable economy can only be achieved by an enlightened, resourceful, and properly motivated workforce, which is the product of education and leadership. Educational development is fundamental to the development of the people culturally, socially, economically and politically.

“The concept of inclusive development is about a development that does not leave any person, part or group out. In other words, no person, part or group is excluded in the development process. Practically speaking, Inclusive development is assured when people in spite of their gender, ethnicity, age, political persuasion, religious belief, social-economic condition, disability or poverty are not marginalised or discounted as a result of these and are stakeholders in the development process,” the governor explained.