Ekiti State University (EKSU) Pro Chancellor, Mr Dele Adesina (SAN) has decried the poor funding of teaching hospitals. He said no country can grow faster than its manpower training institutions.
Speaking at the 10th anniversary of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Adesina urged the government to make the funding of such health institutions a priority.
He said: “It is to be noted that the greatest obstacle to the growth of our universities including teaching hospitals is lack of adequate funding.
“One wonders whether this is due to lack of proper appreciation of an efficient and effective institutions or lack of setting priorities right. Only recently, the Pro Chancellor of University of Lagos, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN) made similar comments.”
He urged Ekiti State indigenes to put political sentiments apart and join hands to develop the teaching hospital.
“To us in Ekiti State, EKSUTH and indeed EKSU are our very own and we must join hands to build and make them enviable institutions. This is a responsibility for all of us home and abroad irrespective of our political sympathy.
“I believe that politics must give way to a common purpose and that common purpose in my opinion is how to make Ekiti great. What increases a man is the value he is able to add to the society. The world is looking for somebody who will do something, not somebody who will explain why he did not do anything,” he said.
EKSUTH Medical Director Dr Kolawole Ogundipe said the hospital boasts of dedicated staff both in the clinical and non –clinical departments.
“I make bold to say that EKSUTH members of staff are among the best and most passionate any teaching hospital can have. The Schools of Nursing and Midwifery were given unlimited grace to apply merit in the admission of students.
“Little wonder then that the schools have continued to record 100 per cent success in the final qualifying examinations of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria,” he said.
At the event were the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe Aladesanmi, Ekiti State Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, EKSU Vice-Chancellor Prof Samuel Oye Bandele, Secretary of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, Prof A.B.O. Omotosho, Speaker, Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr Kola Oluwawole, among others.