Unilag College of Medicine Provost cries out over infrastructure decay

Unilag College of Medicine Provost cries out over infrastructure decay

The Provost of the College of Medicine University of Lagos (CMUL), Prof Wale Oke, has cried out to alumni of the College to come to the aid of the institution to salvage it from infrastructure decay.

Oke who made the call on Friday during a visit of the CMUL Alumni Association, 1977-1982 Set to the 60-year-old institution, said the intervention of the Alumni of the institution is “desperately needed” to salvage the Citadel of Learning.

According to the provost, the institution was at risk of losing accreditation over infrastructure decay.

The 1977-1982 Alumni Set, as part of its 40 years Re-union programme, visited the College to felicitate with the management over the College’s 60 years of existence and to give back to their Alma mater with intervention projects.

According to the Provost, interventions by the Alumni, TETFUND, Foundations and some key organisations, have so far helped the institution to close, to some extent, the critical infrastructure gap.

“Please, we need you desperately. A little drop of water makes the mighty ocean. Make your mind on what you want to do, I’m not asking for money,” he charged them, saying individual contributions pulled together go a long way to address certain deficits.

Oke, who belongs to the 1974-1979 Alumni Set, said having toured the institution there were many infrastructural needs demanding critical intervention.

He said through such Alumni intervention, a solar system was put up recently for the College’s library.

“We need you desperately. I could take my time today and take you all round for you to see the degree of decay the College has been subjected to,” he said.

He said though the 77-82 Set made a donation to the Dental Care Division of the College in a bid to rescue it from losing accreditation in 2019, much more was still needed as the needs of the College were enormous.

“Three years ago we lost accreditation for dental training because we didn’t have enough chairs.

“I don’t want your money, I need action, our needs our multiple,” the provost emphasised.

He expressed optimism that the interaction was “going to bear fruit”, stating that the visit was an indication that the Alumni have not forgotten their Alma mater.

“I know this interaction we are having now would further improve your interest in the College and it’s going to bear very good fruit in future so that people coming behind us, particularly the students, would be truly happy. This college has made us what we are, so we must not forget it,” he said.

The Deputy Provost of the College, Prof. Albert Ebuehi noting that the College has produced erudite scholars and health professionals spread across the World, said their contributions to the development of the College will no doubt go a long way to assisting the training of students.

Speaking, the Secretary of the 7782 Set, Prof Bolaji Oludara, said the Reunion would, beyond felicitating with the College for 60 years of existence, address the critical needs of their Alma mater.

“60 years of servitude to mankind in the realm of teaching, research, and service. Looking at the array of members of our set, the 7782 Medilag Alumni, here present, it is an eloquent pointer to the great contributions of CMUL to high-level manpower worldwide,” he said.

Prof. Oludara said the group was proud of the College for “its achievements, its great potential and what it still adds to the society of today and future generations.

“It is in the light of these assertions that we find it relevant to visit from time to time and relate with the headship and management of the College at a very high level.”

He said as was done in 2018 when the group came to the College and identified a critical need which was implemented in June 2019, the Set would equally identify current pressing needs during a tour of the College, following which the best way to render help would be discussed at the group’s AGM which forms part of the Reunion programme.

“Again, we are here not only to felicitate with the College on the 60th Anniversary but also to take home messages and information on some low ‘hanging fruits’, that can be imminently sorted out by our Annual General Meeting,” he said.