Aregbesola Receives Reports on 98 UNIOSUN Medical Students Transfered Abroad; Says No Sacrifice Too Much for Future of Children
Staff
August 29, 2013
GOV. RAUF ADESOJI AREGBESOLA OF THE STATE OF OSUN
The Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday said the decision to send stranded medical students of the Osun State University to a foreign university to complete their medical studies was borne out of the conviction of his administration that no sacrifice would be too much to secure better future for children.
The Governor stated this Wednesday night while receiving the report of the Committee on Transfer of UNIOSUN medical students to Ukraine.
Last year, Aregbesola’s government sponsored 87 medical students of the UNIOSUN to V.N Karazin Kharkvin National University in Ukraine to complete their medical programme.
The students had had their programme stalled due to non-availability of a Teaching Hospital for the state university.
Aregbesola said that his government facilitated the transfer of the students because it believes that a responsible government must fulfill its part of a pact entered to with the people irrespective of which person or party in power signed the agreement in so far that governance is a continuum.
Last year, government spent about N162Million to bail out 87 medical students who now continue their programme in Karachin University.
He said, “I feel fulfilled that the students, who would have had their dreams aborted, would now realise their ambition of becoming a full time medical Doctor.
“We have kept faith with these children, their parents and Guidance towards realising their life time ambition. In couple of years from now we will be celebrating their graduation as trained Medical Doctors.
“This government is promising that it will assuage the challenges that the students may be facing during their stay in Ukraine.” The governor told the gathering.
The governor also clarified that of the 98 students made provisions for in the transfer scheme, 87 of them eventually took the offer as parents of the remaining concerned students had made different arrangements for their children
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the transfer committee, Dr. Simeon Afolayan commended the governor for the huge amount spent to keep the hope of the students alive.
Afolayan revealed that over 115 students of the UNIOSUN now pursue their academic programme in Ukraine because of the tremendous support of Aregbesola’s administration.
Afolayan noted that, “Despite the fact that not all the 115 students are of Osun state origin, Aregbesola’s government, in its magnanimity sponsored the students without any string attached. This means that the students did not sign any bond with the government.
“For this gesture, posterity will not forget Aregbesola’s courage and magnanimity to the medical students of UNIOSUN.” Afolayan stressed.
One of the parents of the beneficiaries who is also the Chairman of the Parents representatives to government, Dr. Ademola Ayodele thanked the governor for a rare expression of compassion shown to their wards.
Ayodele said the news of the transfer of the students to Ukraine first came to them as a dream, but with the courage, commitment and determination of government the goal was achieved at the end.
