The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences Otukpo (FUHSO) Prof Innocent Ujah has expressed joy with the Judith Ogwa Obla Memorial Kidney Centre donated to the University’s Teaching Hospital. He emphasized that the multi million Naira project will play a critical role in the treatment and management of kidney and other related diseases in Benue community and Nigeria at large.
Ujah, a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology stated this during the commissioning of the facility and launch of a forty million Naira endowment prize for students of the medical institution by the Godwin Obla Foundation held at the premises of the University Teaching Hospital.
The immediate past president of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) averred that by the gesture, Chief Obla has stimulated an unparalleled contribution to the lives of not only people of Benue South but Nigerians who may be afflicted with kidney related diseases that will require highly specialized treatment and care.
According to the Vice Chancellor, the Kidney Centre has a world class equipment with the latest technology and staffed with experienced and dedicated professionals who will provide comprehensive care to patients with kidney diseases including diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.
He pointed out that FUHSO under his watch has broken many jinx in less than three years of its existence. Recounting that admission and successful matriculation of the first set of students who are currently in their 200 level: commencement of construction work at its permanent site at Akwete-Akpa with 70 percent completion as well as establishment of a teaching hospital.
He thanked the state Governor Dr. Samuel Ortom for unconditionally ceding the General Hospital Otukpo to FUHSO as teaching hospital which he noted was formally handed over to the university by the Federal Ministry of Health on April 13th, 2023, with the appointment of Professor Silas Ochejele as Acting Chief Medical Director (CMD).
The Pioneer FUNSHO Vice Chancellor added that the Kidney Centre was the first of its kind in North Central and first in the history of Federal University of Health Sciences in Nigeria.
He informed that the occasion was not for the commissioning of a world-class kidney centre alone but also Godwin Obla Foundation endowing four prizes in the College of Medicine of the university which include the overall best graduating student in the College of Medicine – named after Dr Edwin Idoko Obe for being the first Idoma medical doctor and other best graduating medical student in Surgery; best graduating medical student in Internal Medicine – captioned after Joseph Elagbaje Obla Snr and best graduating medical student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology – named after the donor, Chief Godwin Odumu Obla, SAN.
Prof Ujah who added that each of the prizes was worth ten million – totalling forty million naira, maintained that the forty-million-naira (N40 m) prize by the Foundation will further enhance the Institution’s efforts at creating an enabling environment for a world class university that will bring out innovation for improved healthcare services in the country.
The Vice Chancellor therefore hailed Chief Obla SAN and pledged that FUHSO management will not renege but judiciously utilize the kidney centre for the good of humanity and endowment prize as a determined world class university.
“I also thank Godwin Obla Foundation for the generosity and commitment to the advancement of health care and medical education in Nigeria and I urge other philanthropists and NGOs to emulate Chief Obla’s example and contribute towards the development of education and health care system of the university, Ujah charged”.
Pro Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of the university, Prof Abdullahi Alkali Abba said it was thoughtful of the Foundation to have set up the kidney centre saying the Governing Council was appreciative of the gesture. “This is extremely generous. You cannot imagine the kind of encouragement it will give to the students”, Prof Alkali stated. Adding that the university was interested in the part that involves research and training since it was a vital component of the project.
The state governor, Samuel Ortom represented by his deputy, Engr. Benson Abounu observed that Judith Obla was no more, but her name will continue to save souls through the centre and the endowment prizes.
Senator Aba Moro representing Benue South Senatorial District in a speech extolled the determination of Chief Obla whom he said left him years ago in politics to pursue his career and has risen to the apex of his career as Senior Advocate of Nigeria. He also pointed out that being a minority like the Idoma people of Nigeria was not a stigma but a challenge, adding that Chief Obla has demonstrated his love for his people and promised to partner with the Foundation.
In his speech, the state Deputy Governor elect Dr. Sam Ode stressed that nothing could be more than what the donor has done in the Centre for the people, disclosing that the state Governor- elect, Rev Father Hyacinth Alia has asked him to intimate the university’s management that the incoming administration will sustain good partnership with FUHSO as established by the current administration.
Bishop of Otukpo Catholic Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Michael Apochi praised Chief Obla SAN for the kind gesture, noting that it was characteristic of his person, narrating that the edifice has transformed the teaching hospital.
Paramount ruler of Idoma Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Agaba-idu, Dr. John Ogbodo Elaigwu who blessed the benefactor, people and the land described Professor Ujah as a good man who has achieved a lot as Vice-Chancellor of the university.
