Rivers: Governor Wike Renews Medical Students' Scholarship

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike on Tuesday announced the renewal of the state government's scholarship for Rivers students studying medicine at the PAMO University of Medical Sciences.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Governor's Special Assistant on Media, Kelvin Ebiri, following the Second convocation of PAMO University of Medical Sciences at Iriebe in the Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of the State.

Represented by Prof. Chinedu Mmom, the state Commissioner for Education, Wike said the university has proven to be one of the learning institutions that has enhanced medical education in River State.

He said: “The entirety of today’s event is the culmination of the vision and extraordinary commitment of the pathfinder, our leader and mentor, His Excellency, Dr. Peter Odili, former governor of Rivers State.

“PAMO University of Medical Sciences is a private gift from him to Rivers State, Nigeria and humanity at large and we are forever happy and grateful to him for the golden gift.”

The Governor also noted that the university has, in the short period of its existence, affected the lives of its students and other children of the State.

He added that the visible transformation and contribution to educational development in the State had placed the school on a pedestal higher than those of other private, state or federal Universities

His words: ”This is why we embraced it with open arms from the very beginning and committed state’s resources to help it grow, stabilise and succeed.

”Today, we are reaping the second set of fruits of our support with the graduation of 39 students from the Faculty of Allied and Health Sciences and the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences and many more proceeding forward to the clinical stages of their studies,” he said.

Wike added, ”The scholarship which has already supported over 500 Rivers students, including those from poor backgrounds, to actualise their aspirations to become medical professionals, is part of deliberate efforts for the acceleration of production of doctors and other medical professionals from Rivers State.”

The Governor further announced a grant of N500 million to PAMO University of Medical Sciences.

Dr Peter Odili, the former Governor of Rivers State expressed shock at the remarkable impact PAMO University of Medical Sciences had made within five years of its establishment, attributing the success to God.

The former Governor appreciated Wike for the support at different levels which hastened the growth of the university. 

He urged the graduating students to be good representatives of the university and utilise the knowledge gathered wherever they found themselves.

The Chairman of the occasion and former Military Head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar, maintained that Wike remained the greatest support to the growth of PAMO university.