By Bright Anyanwu
It was Masayoshi Son who said: Think big; Think Disruptive. Execute With Full Passion.
After September 2, 1945, which signaled the end of World War II – the most devastating warfare in the history of mankind, the state of Western Europe fell into conundrum yawning for massive recovery and transformation. As hope beckoned, the US President, Harry S.Truman, on April 3, 1948 formulated an Economic Recovery Policy for Western Europe tagged the Marshall Plan. The plan was implemented leading to revival, reinvesting and recovering of Western Europe which later repositioned her on the path of economic prosperity till date.
Displaying the same distributive leadership of Truman is the Chief Medical Director, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Professor Joseph Ugboaja (OON), Ochinanwata, whose performance so far as the Substantive Chief Medical Director of the Hospital has totally transformed the hospital to an international standard.
Precisely, on the 19th of May, 2023, the hospital made history with the groundbreaking ceremony of (officially) commissioning the relocation of the hospital to its permanent site at Akamili and the commissioning of legacy projects by the Former President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
It was a memorable day which witnessed the gathering of la creme de la creme in social and health sectors at Akamili for the commissioning.
The epoch-making event portrayed the CMD as a man who sees tomorrow; a man with passion and zeal who is determined to deliver; a man who is not deterred by obstacles; a workaholic who has refused to rest on his oars until he makes the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching the best in Nigeria; the main thrust of his Project 2030 policy.
After his ascension as the Substantive CMD, apparently, there was no takeoff grant for the hospital, coupled with paucity of funds to embark on such monumental transformational project, so the CMD, simply rolled up his sleeves and came up with the marshall plan that made the relocation a reality. Today, a mega medical tourist center is birthed in Nnewi.
Remarkably, the following projects hereunder were commissioned by the Former President on the 19th of May, 2023:
Accident & Emergency Building.
Paediatric Emergency Complex.
Special Treatment Centre.
Specialty Clinic & Its landscaping.
Molecular Laboratory.
Mother & Child Care Building.
Amenity Ward Complex.
Radiology Building.
GOPD.
OXYGEN Plants I, II.
Trauma Center.
Multiple Road Networks, etc.
Reference & Picture Gallery: https://www.nairaland.com/7695302/official-commissioning-nnamdi-azikiwe-university.
A special recognition was the attraction of International Diagnostic & Cancer Research Center, a multi-billion naria project endowed by Dr. Cletus Ibeto (OON, CON), Omekannaya, which its construction has taken off. The diagnostic complex promised to be an international standard, a center of excellence for breakthroughs in cancer research and preventions.
Consequently, between May 19, 2023 and today, the CMD and his team have moved beyond the projects duly commissioned by the Former President.
Just recently, Professor Joe, as he is fondly called by his close acquaintances, attracted federal government intervention project for South-East to the Institution, a multi-billion naira diagnostics project for high-tech treatment.
The good news is that the project has been duly approved/captured in the Appropriation Bill for 2024. Hopefully, before the end of the year-2024, the project would be completed and commissioned by the presidency.
Also, on the 17th of April, 2024, the CMD was in Abuja to sign an MoU with Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) for the building of a multi-billion naira International Oxygen Plant and Ancillary Facilities at the permanent site. The project is to aid infrastructural development in the hospital and immediate utilization of the facilities to ensure an improved healthcare services to Nigeria populace.
By providing the enabling environment at the permanent site for quality healthcare services, the CMD is now set to move into super-specialties development for an advanced medical delivery to Nigerians, especially Ndi Igbo.
His achievements so far have created massive direct and indirect job opportunities for our people. It has attracted multiple road constructions to the towns around the axis. Indeed, the relocation of the hospital to its permanent site now flourishes the real estate business at the zone. It equally provides a conducive learning environment for the clinical training of the University’s medical students in line with the international best practices.
The CMD’s success is for us. As he celebrates this anniversary, I wish him more success and I pray that his lofty dreams for the hospital will be fully materialized.
Congratulations! ????????
Bright Anyanwu is a
Public Affairs Analyst.
bo.anyanwu@unizik.edu.ng
