· Wike’s 500-bed hostel helps school accommodate 900 medical students
· Now to admit 200 per year instead of 100
By Ignatius Chukwu
Rivers State University (RSU) is to admit the highest number of medical students allowed to any university per year from next academic year, moving from 100 to 200.
This has been made possible due to infrastructure upgrade in the RSU, most recent of which is a 500-bed hostel.
Gov Nyesom Wike commissioned the hostel Monday, 22 May 2023, where he announced a bonding system for medical scholars on the state government’s docket.
Providing the description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Special Projects, Deinma Iyalla, said it was flagged off on 8th December, 2022 and completed in six months.
According to him, two blocks of three storey buildings were remodeled while one three storey building was freshly built with 500-bed capacity.
In his address, Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Prof. Chinedum Mmom, recalled that it was when the Basic Clinical Sciences and Clinical Sciences Faculties were inaugurated that the promise to build the 500-bed hostel was made which has now been fulfilled, graciously.
On his part, Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, explained that the hostel has the signature of Gov Wike as a quality project, enhancing the physical infrastructure index, and staff capacity. He said it has further boosted the ranking of the institution as a world-class university.
Giving his goodwill message, Rivers State Chairman of Nigeria Medical Association, Dr Ebi Robinson, noted that the hostel will improve the welfare and physical wellbeing of medical students, make movement to classes safer for them with the multiplier effect on students academic performance.
The governor later proceeded to the main campus of the Rivers State University to inaugurate the newly constructed senior staff quarters.
As a mark of appreciation to his enormous contribution to the development of the University, Justice Iche Ndu (rtd) announced that the management of the institution has named the Senate Building after Gov Nyesom Wike.
The governor declared that nobody can fault his administration that it has failed on promises made because they have all been fulfilled.
Gov Wike said he is happy to have accomplished the feat because the Rivers State University and their medical students now have the best of hostel facilities that will contribute to academic excellence.
