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Tag: Medical students

  • Clark hails President, security agencies for rescue of 20 medical students, others

    Clark hails President, security agencies for rescue of 20 medical students, others

    Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark, yesterday praised President Bola Tinubu for the rescue of the 20 medical students and eight National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members. 

    Clark also hailed the security agencies for their roles in the operations.

    In a personal statement, the former National Commissioner said the successful rescue was a major victory for the Tinubu administration.

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    He said: “The rescue of the 20 medical students and the eight youth corps members from Akwa Ibom State, who were rescued after spending one year in the bush in the hands of their abductors, is a major victory for the President Tinubu administration, and I commend him for it.

    “I commend the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu; the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, and all those who participated in this rescue mission. I pray that such rescue methods should be deployed all over the country, across the Northeast, Northwest, Northcentral, Southeast, Southwest and Southsouth.”  

  • IG hands over 20 rescued medical students to vice chancellors

    IG hands over 20 rescued medical students to vice chancellors

    • Police kill kidnap kingpin, arrest two, free seven other victims

    Three days after they were rescued, the 20 medical students have been handed over to the vice chancellors of the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) and the University of Jos (UNIJOS).

    They were handed over in the presence of some of their parents by Inspector-General (IG), Kayode Egbetokun, who told reporters that the leader of the kidnap gang was killed by security operatives.

    The medical students, who were abducted on August 15 on the Otukpo-Enugu Highway en route the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical Students in Enugu, regained freedom on Friday.

    According to IG, seven other victims were also freed alongside the medical students.

    The police chief restated that no ransom was paid to rescue the kidnapped victims.

    The medical students arrived at Force Headquarters with IG at about 5:30pm yesterday.

    Egbetokun said: “Today (yesterday), it is with a deep sense of relief that I brief you on a successful operation conducted by the Nigeria Police Force, which resulted in the rescue of 27 innocent citizens on 22nd August, 2024, who had been abducted by a dangerous criminal gang in Benue State.

    “Among those rescued were 20 medical students of the University of Jos Teaching Hospital comprising 16 males and four females, who were cruelly taken abducted while in transit to a Conference in Enugu on 15th August, 2024; five other passengers and two other victims who had also fallen victim to these heinous criminals were also freed.

    “The successful rescue of these 27 individuals was achieved without the payment of any ransom. This success was possible through the activation of security intelligence network, synergy with other security agencies, community partnership and the deployment of our highly skilled and tactical officers, whose dedication, bravery, and precision in executing their duties are truly commendable. During the operation, our officers engaged the kidnappers in a well-coordinated tactical offensive.

    “I am pleased to inform you that the kingpin of this notorious gang was neutralized during exchange of fire with our operatives and his weapon recovered, while two other members of the gang were arrested.

    Read Also:20 kidnapped medical students: Police kill kingpin, arrest two others

    “These individuals are currently in our custody, where they are providing valuable information that will help us dismantle their criminal network and prevent future occurrences of such abductions.

    “It is pertinent to state that rescue operations of this magnitude are painstakingly difficult and complex, requiring not only deployment of resources but also meticulous planning and coordination.

    “In this regard, I must extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), whose support was instrumental in this operation. I also wish to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of other security agencies who partnered with us, as well as the local vigilantes who played a crucial role in ensuring the success of this mission.

    “This success is a demonstration of what can be achieved when we work together towards a common goal.

    “Let me take this opportunity to address all Nigerians, particularly the relatives of those who have been victims of such criminal acts. We understand the anxiety and pain that families experience during these trying times.

    “However, we urge you to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies when such situations arise. It is only through cooperation and trust that we can effectively carry out our constitutional mandate of securing lives and property.

    “We remain resolute in our commitment to rid our nation of criminal elements who seek to disrupt the peace and security of our society.

    “The Nigeria Police Force will continue to employ every lawful means at its disposal to protect the lives and property of all Nigerians while strongly determined to ensure that those who choose to engage in criminal activities will be brought to justice.”

    “As we continue to advance our efforts in combating crime across the country, I assure you that we will remain vigilant, proactive, and relentless in our pursuit of a safer Nigeria where the security of every Nigerian and residents in our great country is our top priority, and we will not rest until every citizen can go about their daily lives free from fear and intimidation.

    “I commend the bravery and professionalism of our officers, and I thank all the agencies and individuals who contributed to the success of this operation. Together, we will continue to strive towards a safer, more secure Nigeria.”

    UNIMAID’s Acting Vice Chancellor Prof Mohammed Laminu Mele said: “I am happy that the 20 medical students have been rescued. We will do everything possible to make them comfortable in school.”

    The UNIJOS Vice Chancellor University, Prof Tanko Ishaya, said: “As a university, we have already arranged and prepared that as soon as you hand over  these students to us, we are going to camp them somewhere where we are going to provide guidance and counseling before they are actually reintegrated back into the society.

    “We may assume that they are not going through any   trauma because they are looking very unhealthy, but we believe that they require a kind of guidance, particularly counseling that will make them overcome the trauma and the experience that they have had.”

    One of the parents, John Enger, who spoke on behalf of others, expressed happiness over the rescue and urged the security operatives to do more and rescue other people that are still in captivity.

    Enger said: “We were desperate as parents. Anxiety was everywhere; we could neither work, nor sleep; we had these challenges. The VC, as he said, encouraged us; the commissioner of police, did most of his own through the PPRO.

    “But you see, we were afraid; the person representing the minister said… – and you said this also -, that is a turning point.

    “We were afraid of the experiences of the past. That’s why we went all the way. Most of us had no money to pay but thank God the security operatives rescued them without paying anything.

    “Fortunately, this is a good event. And we appreciate, we thank you sincerely. All our children are here safe.

    “So, we are very grateful to you for the effort. We are very grateful to the President.  We are very grateful to the NSA. You see, when you said it, that NSA gave all its best.

    “We know that somebody had done something. Today, if it happened, we know that the security men are there. Before, we were afraid.

    “So, thank you very much. On behalf of the parents, we appreciate the gentlemen of the press because they helped us. Information was everywhere.”

    Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia urged the students not to be discouraged by their abduction.

    The governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Finance, Michael Oglegba said: “Despite what has happened to you, go and be successful… prove that Nigeria has not spared its best to save you for nothing. Be there for the country. To the parents who stood and prayed with us throughout, thank you.

    “To the whole country, we are all awake praying for you, hoping that God will bring you back. So, please prove Nigeria right by being the best you can, the best doctors, the best of whatever it is that you’re studying. And the rest of the police, thank you.”

    The governor lauded the President, adding that the security situation in the state was getting better.

    He said: “Things have taken a turn for the better with the coming of this present government. If you notice, the whole scale, industrial scale killings that used to happen in Benue have been reduced to a minimum. We’re not there yet, but we’re moving towards that place.”

  • Abductor killed, two captured in rescue operation of 20 medical students

    Abductor killed, two captured in rescue operation of 20 medical students

    • Victims moved to Abuja

    • UNIJOS VC says it’s the Lord’s doing

    • Recounts how varsity raised altar, prayed for students’ release

    It was a bloody day in Ajide forest, Benue State on Friday as security agents swooped on the gunmen who had been  holding 20 medical students of the Universities of Jos and Maiduguri captive.

    The abductors had demanded a N50million ransom to free the victims  but the government was not prepared to meet such a demand.

    Force became inevitable and a shootout soon ensued.

    It was not clear yesterday who fired the first shot ,but by the time the dust settled,one of the bandits  had been gunned down and two others captured by the security team comprising soldiers, members of the Police Special Squad and Department of State Security (DSS) operatives.

    All the victims were rescued alive nine days after they were seized on the Otukpo-Enugu Highway.

    They were moved to Abuja yesterday by the Office of the National Security Adviser which co-ordinated the rescue operation for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) treatment.

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    They were Enugu bound on the fateful day to participate in the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students before they ran into the gunmen that abducted them.

    A security source confirmed the death of the kidnapper and the arrest of two others.

    The Nation gathered that the security operatives had massed around Ado and  Okpokwu Local Government Area where the forest is located preparatory to their storming the kidnappers den.

    Deployed to assist them in the operation were drones and helicopters.

    The Benue State Police Command broke the news of the rescue late Friday but gave no details.

    The Chief spokesman for the Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi said yesterday that no ransom was paid for the freedom of the victims.

    Olumuyiwa ,in a terse statement on his  X handle  @Princemoye1 said: “We confirm the release of our brothers and sisters and some other Nigerians who have been in captivity on Friday 23rd August 2024 in Ntunkon forest, Benue State. Without any ransom paid. Contrary to some tweets and unconfirmed stories that some money was paid, no kobo was paid to release them. They were actually rescued tactically and professionally. We commend the security agencies, locals, and ONSA for their commitment and resilience. Thanks to you all. More details soon. “

    UNIJOS VC: It’s the Lord’s doing

    The Vice Chancellor of the University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya was all joy yesterday as he savoured the  rescue of his students.

    “Absolutely.We’ve been very, very glad since last night when we  received that good news,” he said on phone yesterday.

    He added: “It is  a great, great relief for  the university management and of course the parents, who had been suffering psychological trauma, and all the students themselves. It was quite a great relief for us.”

    Asked how he felt when the news of the rescue first reached him, he said: “Of course, when we got the information, some of us stayed on until we were sure and told that all the students were actually with the security agencies.”

    He said no ransom was paid to the gunmen.

    He expressed gratitude to the federal government,the NSA and the security agents for getting the students freed.

    He looked forward to seeing the students and taking  them “straight to the Jos University Teaching Hospital to make sure that they are medically and psychologically revived and stabilised before they are integrated back into the society and into the university system.”

    On his reacting to the abduction,he said: ” when we heard about the kidnap issue, the first thing that came to my minds was, what do we do to get this students out? Immediately, the first thing that we did was to go and report to the security agencies.

     “But beyond the efforts of the security, we raised a prayer altar, and we kept praying that nothing harmful should befall these students and when we got in touch with the various security agencies, they kept giving us assurances, particularly myself (the Vice Chancellor), as we kept on discussing with the team from the security adviser’s office, STF Commander, DSS directors, the Police.

    “They kept giving us assurances, that by the grace of God nothing would happen to them and we were just praying and hoping the students would be released.The security agencies kept their promises, and our students have been released. And to the best of my knowledge, no ransom was paid for their release.”

  • Abducted 20 medical students rescued in Benue

    Abducted 20 medical students rescued in Benue

    The 20 medical students of University of Jos and University of Maiduguri abducted in Benue State last week are out of their captors’ den, the State Police Command confirmed last night.

    Their rescue was made possible by the joint efforts of the military, police and the Department of State Security (DSS).

    The operation was coordinated by the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA).

    Details of the rescue mission were not available at press time yesterday, but the news must have come as a massive relief for the families, mates and friends of the freed students.

    Spokesperson for the police command, Catherine Anene, in an SMS at11:15 yesterday simply said: “Kidnap victims released. Details will be released tomorrow (today) morning please,”

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    The students were seized penultimate Thursday on the Otukpo-Enugu Highway in Benue State while they were on their way to the annual convention of the Federation of Catholic Medical and Dental Students in Enugu.

    About 48 hours after their abduction, one of the victims Aondona Kingsley, managed to get words across on his X to the outside world on their ordeal.

    He said they were denied food during their first two days in captivity and were under threat of torture and death by the kidnappers who demanded a ransom of N50 million.

    He said: “We were kidnapped on our way to Enugu for a convention @Nigerian_Doctor. They are requesting for 50 million for 20 of us medical students. Please help us and we haven’t eaten for two days 08163420157 –Pius that is who we are gathering the money with.”

    In a separate message, he said: “They said they would start killing us tomorrow.”

    Among the captives were Boniface Tizhe, Thomas Yahaya, Gabriel Jita Iwev, Boniface Okon, Dondo Fabian, John Bitrus Naga, Fortune Chima Umeh, Godwin Gregory Tumba, Monica Ejembi and Ogbonna George Chukwuebuka.

    Others are Paul Nyampa Zira, Lawrence Victory Adaugo, Okopi Peter, Enger Benedicta, Kwaghaondo Aondona Kingsley, Paul Shantong, Victoria Cornelius, Pius Samson, Okan Adara and Dr. Luis Mmbamonyeukwu, a House Officer.

  • UNILAG medical students seek more security

    Students of the University of Lagos have urged the government and the varsity’s management to beef up security at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, which shares premises with the varsity’s College of Medicine.

    They made the call during a march they held at the weekend to protest the death of a fresh graduate of the college, Dr Stephen Urueye, who was attacked by hoodlums in front of LUTH gate, a day after his graduation. He did not survive the injuries. Over 800 students took part in the procession.

    The late Urueye, a graduate of Medicine, had taken part in the institution’s 51st Convocation last Wednesday and by Thursday, he was dead.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that Urueye was robbed and stabbed between 9pm and 9:45pm around Canal/Sickle Cell Foundation, close to the LUTH main gate.

    Angered by his death, about 800  of his colleagues held a candlelight procession for him last weekend.

    The protesters, led by his former course mates, who belonged to a group known as Syncytium ’17  marched from LUTH, through Surulere to the Baale’s palace. They then cut through Ojuelegba to Area C Command Police Station chanting #JusticeforStephen as they progressed.

    A  protester, described the mashing as a peaceful march and a fallout from the Twitter campaign against the brazen killing of their colleague.

    At the Area C Police Command,  an officer urged the students to take their complaint to the Area D Police Command under which jurisdiction the incident occured. The matter was eventually reported there.

     

    How he was attacked

    A close friend of the late Urueye, popularly known as Sembels, relived the deceased’s ordeal in the hands of his assailants. He also spoke of the interventions to save Urueye’s life.

    Sembels, who was in LUTH  that fateful day, said the late Urueye was attacked by hoodlums in front of the Sickle Cell Foundation.

    Sembels said: “They shouted at him: ‘Bring your phone!’ ‘Bring your phone!!’ But, he was not with his phones.

    “Suddenly, one of them stabbed him on his right thigh near the hips; another one stabbed him from behind at his lumbar region.

    “He fell and bled profusely. He got up and ran towards LUTH gate, and fell again, this time into the flood in front of the hospital gate.

    “Unfortunately, it rained on that day and the level of the flood had  increased. Stephen struggled to stand, but he fell again.

    “As Stephen was still battling for his dear life, some of the security men at the LUTH gate allegedly looked the other way,  taking him for drunk.

    An eyewitness, who does not want to be named, said: “The security men at the gate did not take him serious.They thought he was  drunk. They ignored him.”

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    CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Urueye was robbed alongside his friend whose phones were also collected. His friend, who reportedly escaped unhurt, later ran back to where he lay almost breathless.

    Bleeding profusely, the late Urueye was taken to LUTH Accident and Emergency Unit, where he was given some pints of blood.

    His colleagues said he lost so much blood and sustained various cuts, adding that doctors immediately stitched his femoral artery.

    “After conducting that session, Stephen went into a coma. He was resuscitated and admitted at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He suffered two cardiac arrests and died in the early hours of Friday, after the second cardiac arrest,’’ one of his colleagues told our correspondent.

    It was gathered that the hoodlums also invaded the medical hostel and robbed some students of their valuables.

    Urueye’s death  has again brought to the fore, the safety of medical students at LUTH and its environs.

    The students have repeatedly lamented the insecurity at Itire, describing the Idi-Araba axis as unsafe.

    Although the late Urueye was the first to die from such attacks, past survivors recall their ordeal.

    According to them, such incidents are rampant. They noted that they were lucky to have escaped.

    “This is the hideout of hoodlums,” said another student who pleaded anonymity.

    “They lurk around by the street lights and blockage of the narrow paths. It could have been anyone and we do not want a reoccurrence.”

     

    Previous attacks

    In March 2015, hoodlums attacked students in the LUTH Workers Mosque, a stone throw from the LUTH main gate.

    A victim, who identified himself as Semiu, narrated his ordeal: “We were reading in preparation for the exam at the workers’ mosque in LUTH, some of us were awake while others were asleep.

    “It was in the middle of the night. I was deeply asleep. All of a sudden, I heard disturbing sound of people panicking.  As I attempted to stand up, one of the criminals with a knife, attempted to stab me. Luckily, I stood up and ran away with others.

    ‘’Then, I remembered that I was charging a Samsung Galaxy tab at the mosque. I returned to the scene, only to discover that they had left with some of our items.

    “Although we made attempts to ambush them, annoyingly they ran through the police office close to the LUTH Idi-Araba gate,” he said.

    “Immediately, some of us went to the security checkpoint at the LUTH gate to inform the security personnel. They slapped one of us and ordered him to kneel down. But, we quickly intervened, informing them that the person being asked to kneel down was indeed a victim. It was on hearing this that they released him.

    “Disturbed by this incident, we locked the LUTH gates the following day. Some senior officers in the hospital pleaded with us to stop the protest. We actually suspended the demonstration on the condition that our stolen items would be replaced. They promised but never fulfilled it.”

    To stop the incessants attacks, the students are asking the police command to set up a Rapid Response Squad in the area, especially around the canal.

    Another female student, who did not want her name mentioned, praised UNILAG management for  deploying Close Circuit Camera (CCTC)  in its Akoka campus, urging it to extend the gesture to the Idi-Araba campus, especially the Canal/Sickle Cell Foundation area.

  • Mental health challenge and medical students

    Sir: Doctors are expected to know almost everything about the business of not falling ill, after all it is their business. Yet time has continued to show that ill health is no respecter of persons not even if you are a doctor trained to treat other people when they fall ill.

    If there is any illness which respects class, profession and social standing; it is definitely not one that concerns the mental well-being of any person.

    Mental illness is a term well misunderstood in our society despite its presence with us for a very long time. Or how do you explain the myths that depression is an illness of the white and suicide an imported anomaly?

    There has been an increasing wave of admissions of medical students on the psychiatry ward in OAU, but OAU is not an isolated case. At a Southwest regional meeting of the Nigerian Medical Students Association sometime last year, there was a common complaint of an increase in the incidence of mentally ill medical students across all the medical student associations in the region.

    It is a common problem; yes, strange but unexpected – no.

    This is why: the work load of an average medical student is gargantuan, the amount of materials he has to read, re-read and internalize is quite much but this in itself is not the problem, discouraging scores are the real menace.  You would be forgiven if you think reading books are the major problems for a medical student.  The demands are quite high, long periods on the ward, demanding call hours leaving students exhausted and craving extra hours not to sleep but to read.

    This academic demands are not new , neither are the societal demands but other factors like financial difficulties, emotional challenges and tasking curriculums have come together to make the sanity of medical students a rare finding.

    The economic situation of the country has put immense pressure on financial sponsors of medical students (the ones still lucky to have financial sponsors), which have translated to more financial worries for the students as they try very hard to focus during very mentally grueling sessions. The not so lucky ones, the ones without financial sponsors have to find a way to sponsor their way through school without failing. The lack of social support in medical school encourages medical students to go through difficult times alone and helpless. Most times medical students who face one academically related problem or the other face them alone increasing the chances that they face the same challenges once more due to increasing feelings of self-doubt in their abilities.

    Some of these students end up depressed and are not noticed until periods when they show signs of severe depression with possible signs of psychosis, others could have lingering anxiety issues that affect their abilities to function optimally while others could be suicidal.

    The first step to recovery is a psychosocial approach, making sure that the stigma placed with mental illness in our society is gradually removed. People have to understand that depression doesn’t signify a mental weakness neither is it an illness that people consciously seek. The patient shouldn’t be blamed.

    Despite the great works by mental health consultants, NGO’s like Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative there is a wide lacuna in the knowledge of Nigerians about mental health issues like depression, suicide, anxiety disorders, substance abuse and other ailing mental health issues.

    That is why programs like the mental health symposium themed “identifying the thin line” organized by the Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students Association on Thursday December 13, is a step in the right direction.

    We can’t relent until our society is well educated about mental illness and is ready to give the necessary social support to our friends and family members who become mentally ill.

     

    • Agbaje Tosin,

    President, Obafemi Awolowo University Medical Students Association (IFUMSA).

  • Medical students mourn victims of crises, accidents

    Medical and Dental students of the University of Ibadan (UI), have held a rally in memory of victims of accidents and ethno-religious crises across the country.

    No fewer than 200 students in their second year gathered to pray for the victims. They were clad in black attires to mark the day tagged: Mourning Day. They also observed one-minute silence in honour of the departed.

    The students reflected on the incidents that led to the death of the victims, condemning how the government had handled security of lives and property.

    Most of the students emphasised the need to place value on lives of Nigerians. One of them, Tolu Oyebanji, said: “We, sometimes, do not value the life we have. We should appreciate the fact that we are alive to do what we want. Importantly, we need to back our prayers over Nigeria with actions by electing leaders, who will do the right thing. We must not recycle people who do not care about loss of lives.”

    Another student, Clinton Idahosa, in a similar vein, said death remained inevitable, but what mattered, he said, is how people die and what they are remembered for.

    “Little things like caring, sharing, and good manners preserve us in the heart of many, even after death,” Clinton said.

    Some of the students believed the country was not being governed the right way, pointing out that there was need to look beyond the current crop of leaders in the next year’s general elections.

    Another student, Yomi Fola-Oyetayo, wanted her colleagues to advance discussion beyond getting their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVC) to vote.

    “Beyond talking about our PVCs to vote for the next president, we should also vote in local government, gubernatorial, and Students’ Union elections because these are the people whose decisions have greater effects on us than the one at the federal level,” he said.

    In June, the school lost two of its students to different ailments. A few weeks ago, the country witnessed another tragedy involving a petrol-laden tanker and several vehicles at the Otedola Bridge in Lagos, which claimed lives. There were killings by herdsmen in some parts of the country, including Plateau and Benue states.

    Explaining the motive behind the event, the organisers, Fiyinfoluwa Atinmo, Frank Asibe, Omotola Odeleke and Praise Okunlola, who are course representatives of their class, said they were disturbed by the rate at which lives were being lost in preventable causes.

    “As doctors on training, we are been taught to value and save lives, but what we are experiencing in the country today is extremely against this ethos. As much as we mourn those that died, we need to remind those who have been  entrusted with the responsibility of securing lives to be alive to their duties,” Fiyinfoluwa said.

     

  • Non-accreditation blues for medical students

    Medicine is a time-consuming course. It takes all of six years to study. It has become longer for medical students of the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba. Reason: their College of Health Sciences remains unaccredited, causing delay of up to five years for some of them.  ISRAEL AROGBONLO reports. 

    Some students of the Kogi State University, Anyigba are aggrieved about the seeming nonchalance of the government, which owns the school, in meeting the requirements for the accreditation of its medical programme.

    The university introduced the programme in 2012 during Governor Idris Wada’s administration.  Despite not being accredited, it has been listed by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the Brochure of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for the past five years.

    The students, under the aegis of the Medical Students Association (KSMSA), told CAMPUS LIFE that the non-accreditation of the course had brought them agony. They wondered why the government has been silent on the matter.

    The College of Health Sciences has three sets of medical students – two of which are still in 200-Level (A and B), the third, 300-Level.

    CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the students  have been stagnant for over  five years because of their inability to write the professional examination to qualify them for clinical training in the teaching hospital.

    The state had set up a committee in December 2016 to work within six weeks and give a feedback, but the committee was reported to have worked for 12 months.

    Some students told CAMPUSLIFE that the committee was supposed to recommend the Federal Medical Centre in Lokoja, but “decided to go for an upgrade of an ill-staffed, unequipped and structurally backward diagnostic hospital in the university town for selfish reasons”.

    However, its Provost, Prof Margaret Araoye, noted that as at November last year, the college had admitted four sets of medical students.  Following the stagnation of the pioneer set for three years in 200-Level, the government collaborated with the management to send them out to other institutions (on bonded scholarship that on graduation, they would work three years for the state).

    A statement credited to the provost on a social media site, Nairaland, noted that the institution was making efforts to get accredited in November.

    “Although the college is currently facing accreditation issues and as such caused the pioneer set to be stagnant for three years in 200 level, with intervention from the government and collaboration with the school management, the pioneer students were farmed out to other universities to prevent them from stagnating further while the school works towards meeting the 2018 November accreditation deadline,” the statement noted.

    The Nation reported on April 17 that the students, during a protest, urged the management to address the problem.

    The student called off the protest, meeting with the Provost at the Senate building.

    A student, who declined to give his name, said they had gone too far to turn back, urging the government to take quick measures to address the issue.

    The 300-Level student of Medicine and Surgery said: “I believe something positive must happen at the end, either the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) is approved or what happened to the first set will be repeated. For the school management, we don’t have access to them as we don’t know their plan for now. It will be wickedness on their part if they are still waiting for diagnostic to be approved. Only God is our hope for now.”

    A KSMSA Chieftain described the situation as a neglect of their fundamental human rights He said: “We would love a situation where our voice is been heard and our views are given appropriate concern. We have been in the Medical school for a long while and we are currently being stagnated, not because Kogi lacks the funds or the infrastructure, but because inappropriate planning and political struggle between tribes are at play here. Yet our destiny remains hanging.”

    Another student from Medicine and Surgery Department said the management doing its best for the students emphasising the need for the government to be more proactive in its approach.

    He said: “The management is being positive and is doing their best for the students. But the issue is with the government that is not being proactive in ensuring all the requirements for the accreditation – funds, manpower and other alternatives are provided.

    “The only hope is if the government expedites action in providing funds or alternatives to meeting the demands at stake.

    “Destiny is worth fighting for, I believe there  must be a light at the end of the tunnel. We will continue to fight for our destiny and demand for what is rightfully ours.”

    An academic staff from the Department of Human Physiology, who asked not to be named: said the management was “seriously working hard to help the students out of the situation.”

    He added: “It is important to note that the students in the college are undergoing a serious challenge due to the lack of accreditation in the college, but the school is doing what it deems fit to help the affected students.

    “The management has been trying its best to see that this saga is checkmated, but we know Medical School is not a simple thing to run.”

    A senior lecturer in the Community Medicinal Department, who did not  wish to be named, advised the students to stay focused and strong-willed if they must find a way out of the issue.

    He said: “My advice is for the students to be encouraged though things are bad, but it will not always be like this. If any students get a way out, I suggest they follow it. Progress is progress, no matter how small.

    “Nobody wants the students to be stagnant, but the situation of things are not so good and I suggest a way forward that will not stagnate the students again.

    “As long as God’s plan is standard, there is hope we can always look forward to a better tomorrow, where the government would live to fulfill its words.”

    Efforts to reach the government’s spokesperson failed as at the time of filing this report.

     

  • ‘No accreditation, no lecture’

    ‘No accreditation, no lecture’

    Medical students of the Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri disrupted activities on the campus and the school’s Teaching Hospital, last Monday, to protest the management’s inability to get their programmes accredited, after three failed attempts. Most of the students have spent 10 years studying a six-year course. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO reports.

    How long should it take to study Medicine and Surgery in any university in Nigeria? It is six years, according to the National Universities Commission (NUC), the body that accredits and regulates academic curricula.

    But, at the Imo State University (IMSU) in Owerri, the period for medical training seems indefinite, as students admitted into the Medical College are yet to  graduate, 10 years after. Reason: the insitution’s medical programmes have not been accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) after three consecutive attempts.

    Worried by the development, medical students staged a protest that disrupted activities on the campus last Monday. The protesters decried what they called the school’s “slow response” to the accreditation challenges, resolving that they would boycott lectures and clinical activities until the management gets their programmes accredited.

    Clad in white lab coats, the protesters gathered at 10:30am at a classroom, from where they took off. They carried various placards with inscriptions, such as: “No lecture except our programmes are accredited”, “Give us a date for another accreditation”, “We are tired of failed accreditation”, and “What is our fate after 10 years?”, among others.

    The IMSU Medical Students’ Association President, Chukwuebuka Nkwogu, who was admitted nine years ago, urged the students to be peaceful in expressing their grievances as he led the protesters to the office of the Medical College Provost, who was not in the office.

    The protesters turned the provost’s office to a prayer spot. They went on their knees and ‘cast out’ the devil standing against their programmes’ accreditation.

    The protesters marched on the IMSU Teaching Hospital, chanting solidarity songs on the corridors. They were addressed by the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Dr. Frederick Anorue, and the hospital’s Medical Advisory Committee (MAC) Chairman, Dr. Henry Chineke.

    Anorue told the protesters that all hands were on deck to ensure that the institution met the conditions for accreditation. He advised the students to list their demands, so he could discuss the issues with the Vice-Chancellor (VC).

    Anorue reassured Pathology and Pharmacology students that their courses would soon be okayed. He said: “The management is working hard to help the conditions of students. The VC has promised to take the bull by the horn and get the affected courses accredited.”

    His address was followed by chants of solidarity songs by the protesters, an indication that they did not accept his explanation.

    Chukwuebuka thanked the CMD for identifying with the students’ plight, noting that the protest would continue until a new date is announced for accreditation.

    He said: “The students have been left heartbroken and disappointed. Most of us have been stagnated on the same academic level for years but the management seems not bothered by our plight. The school and other stakeholders are not showing enough concern. Under normal circumstances, we shouldn’t be the one telling the school what it needs to do.

    ‘’We are concerned because our future is at stake. This is why we are involved in the accreditation discussion and sending delegates to meet with the administrative staff. We are tired of asking what the problem is.”

    The protesters said boycotting classes would make the management to solve the problems quickly. They said there was no need to continue learning since they did not see the results of their professional examination.

    Since the beginning of the year, CAMPUSLIFE gathered, no effort had been made by the IMSU to bring back the MDCN’s accreditation team to to assess Medical College’s programme, a development that left the students unsettled. It was learnt that the last exercise was last November.

    The protesters went to the Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit of the hospital, where they also prayed against the devil. Afterwards, they moved through the Resident Doctors’ Quarters and returned to the spot from where they took off.

    A former leader of the students’ association, Dr. Nzeoma Ogechi, now a House Officer at the Teaching Hospital, praised the protesters for being peaceful. He advised the students to be articulate in their demands, promising his support for the struggle.

    Chukwuebuka told The Nation: “There is a major problem at the Pathology department, where students have completed the syllabus, but the examination would not be conducted because of this accreditation challenge. If this is not resolved on time, students are likely to spend more than 12 years in school.

    “We are still forced to collect stipends from our parents and some students are having psychological problem. Some of our lecturers who have children in the Medical College have withdrawn them to other schools, seeing that things are not working out. Apart from the government’s intervention we plead for, we as well need a pragmatic college management.”

    Most of the protesters bore matriculation numbers issued in 2008/2009 session. One of them, Stanley Onyekwere, the final year class representative, said: “We are tired of being told to be hopeful about the accreditation. Why should I spend 10 years for a six-year programme? We are deeply concerned that management has not announced the date for re-accreditation. We have already gone beyond the six-month duration given. We want to know when the accreditation team is coming to the campus.”

    Emeka Uzomah, who has been in school for eight years, said: “We are tired of what is happening in our environment and that is why we are staging this peaceful protest. We don’t want the next generation to suffer this same fate. We need the management to sit up and get the medical school going. Our mates in other schools have graduated and we are still in this same system.”

    Stella Ugochukwu, the Medical Students’ Association Vice-President, said the protest would be massive next time.

    “We are on accreditation struggle and we shall pursue it to a logical conclusion. Our 10-year stay in the school has become our nightmare. We are stagnated at a level and move around a circle. We want management to give us a date for the accreditation. We don’t want to stay more than the abnormal 10 years we have already spent in school. Accreditation has been our greatest fear and we plead with the government, the management and well-meaning citizens of the state to help us achieve this goal.”

    The protesters hoped the demonstration would instigate actions that would lead to the full accreditation of their programmes.

  • Rivers medical students stranded abroad as Wike abandons agreement

    Rivers medical students stranded abroad as Wike abandons agreement

    The gleam has gone out of the light of 16 Rivers indigenes studying medicine at the All Saints University in Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The 16 students who are beneficiaries of the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency Scholarship (RSSDA)  scheme  were  suspended from medical school  two months to their graduation as a result of the inability of the Rivers state government to pay outstanding tuition fees and living allowance running into thousands of dollars.  An invoice for an individual student obtained by The Nation pegged the tuition fee for 5 semesters at $39,975.

    In an online petition uploaded on www.change.org,  the 16 stranded students pleaded with Governor Nyesom Wike to pay their upkeep allowance and tuition, which was last paid in November 2014.

    “We have not been paid our upkeep allowance for about 2 years and 11 months. Our tuition fees have not been paid for 5 semesters (Clinical rotation [CR2 to CR6]), and as a result of this, all 16 of us were suspended from school in September, 2016 (2 months to our scheduled graduation date of November 2016).

    “Ever since our suspension, we have been staying at home, not being allowed to conclude our remaining elective clinical rotations and all efforts to contact the Rivers State Government for the release of funds proved abortive,” the students wrote.

    One of the stranded students, Promise Adimele told The Nation that the non -payment of upkeep allowance has exposed the stranded students to untold hardship and suffering.

     

    “Feeding has been very difficult as we rely on the charities of friends and school colleagues. Most landlords have evicted us from their houses due to non-payment of rent and threatened us with legal proceedings in order to recover the outstanding rent. Life has been tough and unbearable for all of us since we were abandoned by the Rivers State Government and RSSDA”, he lamented.

    In a letter dated July 16, 2016 addressed to Dr Terace Marcelle, the  Dean of  Students Affairs, All Saints University, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines;  the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency had written to the school pleading for understanding whilst also intimating the school management of some changes to the scheme.

    “The point that needs to be emphasized here is that we will only sponsor students that are completing their studies in 2016 as well as settle outstanding commitment to date.

    “Kindly be assured that the outstanding tuition payment for our students in your school have been adequately captured in the list of payables that are on the front burners of the Rivers state government. We will plead strongly with you to continue to show understanding and to kindly allow a little more grace and period specifically for the 16 final year students who also fall in the category of students that the Government has pledged to continue their sponsorship”, the letter, signed by  Mr Lawrence Pepple, the Executive Director/CEO of the RSSDA read.

    Charged with the development of human capital and agriculture resources in the state, the RSSDA was inaugurated as an agency under the ministry of agriculture and natural resources in 2008 by the Rotimi Amaechi administration.  The former governor introduced the overseas scholarship scheme in critical areas such as Medicine and allied courses, to deserving indigenes, after an aptitude test, where qualified candidates were selected and prepared for academic programmes in A-level and/or international degree foundation. Admissions were secured in universities overseas for successful candidates by RSSDA, which entered into a bilateral agreement with students and their host institutions.

    Usually, the living and tuition allowance of the students were paid in advance but problem began when the  former Commissioner for Agriculture, Onemin Jack, in December 2015, informed parents of children under the RSSDA overseas scholarship programme that only final-year students would complete their programmes abroad, with the rest to continue their studies in Nigeria.

    Finding revealed that not only did the agency reneged on the agreement to see the final year students through the scheme,  governor Nyeson Wike who spoke during a recent interview aired on channels TV claimed the RSSDA overseas scholarship beneficiaries were not Rivers State indigenes. He also added that the beneficiaries are children of his political opponents.

    When The Nation sought the reaction of the SSG to the Rivers state governor, Mr Kenneth Kobini, he directed the reporter to ask the former governor, Rotimi Amaechi;

    “You are from The Nation newspaper. Have you asked the former APC zonal leader who was governor who refused to pay the fees of these students’ children since 2014?  When you ask him you can come to us and ask us what we are doing,” he hurriedly stated and hung the call.

    The students refuted the claims of being children of political opponents in the state.  “We have no political affiliations, we are just young people trying to better our lives and become productive members of society.”

    Apart from the  16 RSSDA sponsored final year medical students are stranded at the All Saints University, St. Vincent Grenadines, there are also other final year stranded  students in fields such as engineering, Law, Science, ICT, etc scattered in various schools in India, Europe, Canada, UK and the Caribbean. Last month, parents of stranded final year medical students in the University of Debrecen in Hungary pleaded with governor Wike  to show compassion on their helpless children by fulfilling his promise by  enabling  the students  obtain their certificates and return to Nigeria.

    Also, the  petition was started one month ago by Udochukwu Amadi on www.change.org with the title “ R/State Govt: Please pay the tuition fee of 16 final year RSSDA medical students in the Caribbean” has been circulating online.  The petition targets the executive governor of River as well as some stakeholders including  the speaker of the  Rivers State House  of Assembly, Rt Hon Ikuinyi Ibani,  Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffrey Onyema, Rivers Commissioner of Education, Prof Kainye Ebeku amongst others.

    Derefaka David Direh, a Rivers indigene in the United Kingdom who signed the petition, said: “I am signing this because it is a painful experience to start a programme and not conclude it. Apart from the feeling of failure, it is demoralising for these young ones to have to waste so many years of their lives in foreign lands. A commitment made by one government should be a liability or responsibility of the new government.  Not only should the 16 final year students be catered for,  others who were awardees on the programme should be apologized to and compensated for the suffering and humiliation they have been put through as a result of non- commitment on the part of Rivers state. Is it stressed or traumatized doctors that we want to produce?”

    Another respondent Owhorchukwu Anwuri who was a past beneficiary of the RSSDA scholarship believes the students who have put much effort in their studies should get what they are entitled to.  “It is wicked to leave these sons and daughters of Rivers state in limbo, they deserve better,” he intoned.

    Rivers State Commissioner for Information, Barr Emma Okah, in a phone interview, explained that the state experienced an economic downturn which affected revenue generation and as such,  government decided that for courses that can be easily pursued in Nigeria, there would be no need to pay for tuition in foreign universities.

    “For those who are in final year pursing specialised courses like medicine, the state government planned to pursue their welfare to the extent it can take. Some people have been coming and cases have been dealt with on merit. I do not know what has happened to these set of students.  I am just hearing it for the first time today,” the commissioner stated.

    He said the 16 students were not abandoned on the assumption that they are children of political opponents.

    As Wike works towards the infrastructural development in the state with an enthusiasm that has earned him the toga “Mr Project”, it is only hoped  that he reconsiders his  stance on the stranded medical students  by rescuing them from an abyss of despondency.

    Reporting done as part of BudgIT 2017 Media Fellowship