Stakeholders and leaders of Ndokwa nation have expressed willingness to donate three choice lands as potential sites for the establishment of the proposed Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale, Delta State.
This was the outcome of a meeting between leaders of Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale in Delta State and the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.
The delegation, which was on a thank you visit to the Delta Central lawmaker for facilitating the establishment of the institution, was led by the member representing Ndokwa/Ukwuani constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ossai N. Ossai.
While appreciating the gesture, Omo-Agege emphasised the need for more stakeholders engagement, even as he reminded the delegation that the land should be free of encumbrances without expecting compensation from the Federal Government.
Ossai lamented the absence of tertiary institution in the area, adding that the only federal presence in Ndokwa land since 1960 was a correctional facility. He promised that leaders of the community would hand over the survey plan to Omo-Agege by next week.
The federal lawmaker commended Omo-Agege for facilitating the institution to the area. He also extended deep appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu for the historic gesture.
“We are also happy to inform you that our leaders will work together with you and other stakeholders to ensure the proper take-off and sustainable functioning of the university. To demonstrate this commitment, our people have met and designated three choice lands as potential sites for the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Kwale.
“We have three key areas to give the Federal Government 100 hectares of land. We have a Central Hospital with a lot of land at the back for the university to operate quickly. Also Umusam gave part of the land of industrial park. They still have more than 100 hectares of land to also give. We have everything it takes to host the university. And by next week, we will come with a survey plan to hand it over to you.
“Accordingly, therefore, Your Excellency, on behalf of the good people of Ndokwa/Ukwuani federal constituency, our traditional leaders and the entire people of Utagba-Ogbe, we thank you and salute your leadership excellence, broad heart and magnanimity in keeping Ndokwa Nation in your mind and in giving us this life dream legacy of having a federal institution in Ndokwa land.
“You are a living witness and may rightly recall my many legislative ordeals pushing for the establishment of a higher institution for my people. Today, we are proud to name you, Ndokwa nation son of consolation for your partnership and for keeping true to your words.
“I have also initiated strategic plans to support your efforts with bill and appropriation interventions to provide budgetary overheads for the institution and would be counting on your usual partnership in this regard”, he said.
Among the delegation was the President General, Utagba-Ogbe Kingdom, Chief Theophilus Adoh; High Chief Tony Ezeuku, Chief Francis Obigbor, Esq and a host of others.
Responding, Omo-Agege welcomed the donation, even as he stressed the need for more stakeholders’ engagement and cooperation.
He revealed that efforts are ongoing by the Minister of Education to announce the management team of the institution as well as take-off grant.
He said: “It is all of our responsibility to reach out to everybody that we know that can help expedite the process. I believe I have done my part. The little I can also contribute now and thereafter, I will continue to do so. We need to carry everybody along and remove politics from this. This should be about South-South”.
