The Chief Medical Director and Chief Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon, at Alliance Hospital, an Abuja based multi speciality medical facility, Dr. Christopher Otabor has restated the need for increased private support for medical education in Nigeria, noting that the government alone cannot meet the financial demands of training health professionals.
Otabor stated this at the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) on Thursday while being honoured alongside leading contributors to the growth of its College of Health Sciences.
The event coincided with the institution induction programme for 75 new medical doctors, the highest number in its history.
Expressing happiness for the recognition, Otabor described the award as a privilege and an affirmation of the institution’s commitment to strengthening medical training in Nigeria.
The gesture by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, according to Otabor, who spoke after receiving the honour, underscored the urgent need to bridge the gap.
“Instead of complaining about inadequacies, those who have the means must rise to bridge the gap,” he said.
“Advanced countries depend heavily on private donations. It is in our enlightened best interest to contribute to building stronger training facilities.”
Dr. Otabor, who also lectures for free at the institution, praised the quality of Nigeria’s medical graduates, describing them as “some of the best in the world,” and noting that many excel internationally without difficulty.
The medical consultant expressed concern about the increasing migration of Nigerian-trained doctors, attributing the trend to economic pressures.
He said his motivation for supporting the university is to expand training capacity so the country can continue to retain enough doctors despite ongoing emigration.
“Even when some leave, we must ensure we still have a sizable number who will serve here,” he said.
Speaking, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi described the induction of 75 new doctors as a major milestone for the institution.
“This is the seventh set of medical graduates from the College of Health Sciences, and the highest number so far,” he said.
“It is an excellent achievement, and we commend the provost, deans, and faculty members for their dedication over the years.”
He expressed confidence that the graduates would excel anywhere in the world, noting the university’s rising reputation.
“With the standard of training they have received, we have no doubt about their ability to represent Nigeria admirably,” he said, urging them to uphold integrity and hard work as they begin their professional career.
The university’s Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Titus Sunday, Ibekwe on its part, commended the resilience of the inductees, describing medical training as a demanding journey with high attrition rates.
“Everyone graduating today is the best of the best,” he said.
“The calibre of teachers we have gives us confidence that these doctors will be exceptional representatives of this country wherever they go, “he said, wishing the new doctors success in their future endeavours.”
