By Adekola Afolabi
The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has restated the determination of his administration at ensuring that the dreams of the state-owned University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, are realised.
Governor Akeredolu stated this while playing host to the Management of the University led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Adesegun Fatusi in Akure.
The governor said: “We’ll make the success of UNIMED a priority. I know that UNIMED is a great dream, and we’re prepared to ensure that it remains a great dream. As the first Medical University in Nigeria, we’re not going to give up. We are going to put in everything we have because it is for the glory of this state.”
He expressed happiness that the university was already making impact in some specialised areas in Medicine and will soon become a reference point in medical education in Nigeria.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Adesegun Fatusi congratulated the governor on his re-election which he described as a sign of renewed hope for UNIMED
He specifically appreciated the governor for being a pillar of support to the institution in all spheres of the university development.
“We consider your re-election as a sign of renewed hope for us at UNIMED. When you were first elected in your first term sir, UNIMED was on a shaky ground. Nobody was sure whether UNIMED was going to survive, or if UNIMED was going to go forward, or what was going to happen to UNIMED.
“But sir, your commitment and support gave UNIMED the foundation, strength and stand it has today”, the VC said.
While reeling out the various challenges the Institution was facing, Prof. Fatusi however assured the Governor that UNIMED, being the first specialized Medical University in Nigeria and the third in Africa; will continue to be a leading light.
“UNIMED is a great dream. For the state to have had the first University of Medical Sciences in Nigeria, is a record that will be there forever. Without Ondo having done that, perhaps Bayelsa will not be doing the same; perhaps, the Federal Government would not have done the same.
“And so, we have in Ondo State today, the third specialized school of medicine in the whole of Africa. And that dream has come to be, because of your great support, sir”, he said.