By Chris Chimezie & Sade Adewale
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Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), has expressed the determination of his administration to retain and support the three state-owned universities in the state for optimal performance.

Akeredolu made the disclosure during the third Founder’s Day Lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, (UNIMED), held at the University’s Main Auditorium in Ondo city yesterday.

The theme of the Lecture is “Ethics, Law and Medicine as Foundation for National Development.”

The three state-owned universities include: the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED); Ondo State University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OSUSTECH); and Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA).

He explained that despite the fact that the task was not easy, it would not be possible to abandon any of the universities which are special to people of the state.

“I am not playing politics. UNIMED is the first University of Medical Sciences in Nigeria. A University that deals in specialised areas, can we afford to say we are not supporting it?

“There have been arguments to merge all three universities, but we will continue to try to retain all the three and remains my resolve as Governor of the state.

In his lecture titled Ethics, “Law and Medicine as Foundation for National Development”, the Guest Lecturer, Chief Wole Olanipekun, (SAN), said it was revealed in 2017 that about 40,000 of 75,000 registered medical doctors in Nigeria were practicing outside the country, while 75 percent of doctors in Nigeria were planning to leave.

“In the recent convocation address I delivered at Ajayi Crowther University, I stated that it was ironic that Nigeria doesn’t have sufficient medical doctors to take care of the health needs of her citizenry.

“A good number of the doctors produced by our universities find their way out of the country for better opportunities.

“Statistics from the General Medical Council (GMC) UK, as at July 2017, reveal that over 4,764 Nigerian Medical doctors are working in the UK as part of the National Health Service (NHS).”

Olanipekun, however, said successive governments in Nigeria were liable for the decaying nature of the Nigerian health sector, and appealed to all to stop the blame game and find a lasting solution to the lingering problem.

“Efforts had been made to relate ethics and law with good health and national development while parallels have been drawn between good health itself and national development, and also vice versa.

“In all this, our dear nation, Nigeria, has substantially been the focus, healthcare-delivery wise. Humble suggestions have been made to chart some ways forward from the unfortunate conundrum our Healthcare delivery system has been thrown into.

“While incursions have been made to the underline ethics regulating the professions of law and medicine as well as how those fine and ancient ethics have impacted on the practice of the two foremost professions, can we, in good conscience conclude that those ethics have stabilised us to any reasonably comfortable level of National development? I leave the answer to our collective conscience as a nation.

“It is hoped that this university will not just throw or restrict this lecture to itself or throw it to its archives, but make it available to all and sundry, including our leaders and government.

“The summary of the foregoing is that UNIMED must strive not just to be outstanding but be exceptionally outstanding. UNIMED is a name with a difference; it is specifically tied and related to medical Sciences. Science itself is about research, discoveries, inventions and breakthroughs. May God give UNIMED the grace to live up to its name.

Also, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Friday Okonofua explained that the “Friends of UNIMED fund” (FUF), was initiated by the institution to complement the efforts of the state government in providing additional funds to support the growth of the University.

He thanked the Governor, who has for the first time, approved capital budget for the institution and for promptly paying staff salaries as well as all arrears.

The Vice-Chancellor particularly commended Governor Akeredolu for his untiring efforts at ensuring that the University is sustained through immediate release of funds to scale-up the varsity’s infrastructural development among other areas germaine to the growth of the University.

Okonofua appreciated friends of the University for their immense support since the establishment of the university and called for their continued partnership in ensuring that the institution stands out.