…. Makes Case for Enugu Digital Institute, Others
President Bola Tinubu’s former spokesman in the south east, Dr. Josef Onoh and current Chairman of Forum of former members of Enugu State House of Assembly (FOF-MENHA) has commended the federal government’s conversion of the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy Enugu to a full-fledged Federal University of Allied Health Sciences Enugu.
It was established in 1955 in Lagos as the Federal School of Dental Technology and Hygiene, training dental technicians and hygienists. It became the Federal School of Dental Technology and Therapy in 1978, with the larger goal of training dental technologists and therapists. The school moved to its present location Enugu in 1982. And is funded by the Federal Government.
The president on Thursday gave the approval, upgrading the college from a Diploma to degree awarding institution, noting that the upgrade comes amid ongoing health reforms which would see the federal government train 120,000 frontline health workers nationwide within 16 months.
Reacting to the development, Onoh stated that President Tinubu has by that approval met the aspiration of the founding fathers of Enugu state and shown his administration’s interest in south east development initiatives.
According to Onoh, the milestone is an honour and a breakthrough of interest in keeping to Tinubu’s campaign promises to the people of the south east at the Michael Okpara square in Enugu which he campaigned in the region before the 2023 presidential election.
“By upgrading the Enugu Dental college to a university, President Tinubu has not only shown that he is bringing federal presence to the south east since after the civil war, but it’s also a commendable testament of the vision of a pragmatic Nigeria leader,” Onoh said.
He recalled that even though the south east, particularly Enugu state, did not cast as many votes for the election of President Tinubu, Tinubu nevertheless has confirmed his promise to be a President for all without discrimination.
“The south east has been in lack of federal presence since after the civil war and this act as demonstrated by the President is a bold step given that since the return of democracy the south east has been in lack of federal presence. I commend Mr. President for using my own state as the first state and we are grateful. We urge Mr. President to do more.” he also affirmed the aggressive development in the state being carried out by the Gov. Peter Mbah led administration which is aimed at placing Enugu in the forefront of investment destination in Nigeria and any federal government support and investment in Enugu State is guaranteed.
He however made a case for the federal government to intervene in bringing to life the abandoned Digital Bridge Institute, constructed by the federal ministry of communication in Enugu, which he said has been rotting away since its completion and equipment along Enugu-Ugwogo road at Ibagwa-Nike, Enugu.
Onoh said that world class communication academy has been left to desolate for over ten years since it was completed and equipped but has not taken off, making the equipped institution to rot and decay when it should be adding to the development of Nigerians in Information and Communication Technology.
“There are other federal government facilities in Enugu state that have been abandoned to decay, such as the old site of the University of Nigeria Teaching University Hospital (UNTH). The federal secretariat in Enugu is looking like a students’ hostel. It has remained the same since the administration of Ibrahim Babangida built it. These facilities are all begging for attention and implore Mr. President to intervene in bringing life to these institutions, a testament to our Renew hope promise we made to Nigerians” Onoh pleaded.
