Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State.By Victor Nwegede
Ebonyi State Governor, Chief David Umahi has urged professors to imbibe the spirit of ingenuity, resilience and selflessness in service delivery in the institutions of high learning.
He made this call Thursday at Abakaliki, during the 14th inaugural lecture of Ebonyi State University (EBSU) in the honour of Prof. Jesse Uneke, a lecturer of the institution.
Governor Umahi, represented in the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Kenneth Ugbala commended the university and the lecturer, Prof. Uneke, for attaining a new height with the love and passion to make Ebonyi people proud.
In a statement issued and forwarded to the NATIONAL PANEL by the Public Relations Officer to the SSG/Cabinet Office in Ebonyi State, Mr Einstein Chukwu, the Governor described the topic of the inaugural lecture as apt and very timely, as it addresses the current trends of things concerning COVI-19 pandemic, among others.
“I commend you, on behalf of the Governor for the feats so achieved, the love and passion you have in making our dear state and Nigeria proud by bringing our University and State to the global map. I must appreciate, the Vice Chancellor, the University Community and our illustrious son for the title of 14th inaugural lecture which addressed the global health challenges, COVID-19 pandemic, among others. There is no body that listened to you today that will not go home with a changed mind set," he said.
Umahi maintained that his administration would continue to partner with the university professors in the area of research and improving education in the state irrespective of the challenges confronting it.
He however, charged other professors to emulate the spirit of ingenuity, resilience and selfless service exhibited by the distinguished Professor Jesse Uneke.
He further stated that there was a great expectation on the part of the government and members of the public, adding that the lecture should serve to change their opinions about how to live their lives and be themselves in ways they can live longer and impact on the feature generation.
The 14th inaugural lecture of the university was titled on "Building resilient health systems for sustainable development in the context of COVID-19 pandemic and future global health challenges through evidence-informed policymaking”.
The lecture chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, attracted a large pool of academics from the Ebonyi State University, other tertiary institutions, government functionaries and members of the public.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and the EBSU Vice Chancellor, Professor Chigozie Ogbu, said that it was a unique event in the University System which availed a professor the opportunity to complete and reach the pinnacle of his professorial journey. He emphasised that occasion would assist the professor to enlighten the public on the areas he has been labouring in over the years.
In his lecture, Professor Jesse Uneke said that his proposals succeeded after 25 failed attempts and thanked the Governor of Ebonyi State, for providing the enabling environment for his academic excellence.
Jesse Uneke, a Professor of Medical Parasitology, Health Policy and Health Systems is an accomplished scholar, who has authored many scholarly essays. He is a leading expert in grantsmanship. He was a recipient of University Scholar Award for Academic Excellence. He has also held many administrative and , academic positions, namely, Deputy Vice Chancellor in Academics, Ebonyi State University; Founder/Director of the Africa Institute for Health Policy and Health Systems, Ebonyi State University; Director, WHO-Evidence to Policy Network; National Consultant, Ford Foundation USA and Nigerian Academy of Science. Chairman, Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Medical Committee, among others.
In a vote of thanks, Deputy Vice Chancellor in Administration, Prof. Mrs. Oselebe, expressed unreserved gratitude to Governor Umahi for his magnanimity to Ebonyi State University and for celebrating an academic pathfinder, a trail blazer in the person of Prof. Jesse Uneke.
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