Hamza Idris
1 July 2011
Maiduguri — GOVERNOR Kashim Shettima of Borno State, yesterday approved a monthly allowance of N20,000 to all indigenes of the state, who are studying Medicine and Dental Services in various universities in Nigeria.
The governor said the gesture was aimed at encouraging students to pursue careers in the medical field for effective healthcare service delivery.
Shettima, who said this while receiving medical students of Borno State origin, said the state government would henceforth give books and final year project allowances to the medical students. He also promised that the allowances of nursing students would soon be reviewed upward.
The governor, who noted that the past administration invested in the health sector by constructing hospitals and comprehensive health care centres in the 27 local government areas, added that, “The aim of improving the condition of the health centres will be defeated if the welfare of medical students is not improved upon. We have to support them very well so that they will think of our people and work in the state after completing their studies.”
He said contracts for the renovation of Schools of Nursing and the School of Health Technology would soon be awarded, and that he has released N10 million for the take off of the state’s Specialists Hospital in Maiduguri.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Alhaji Waziri Ngurno lamented that medical students who were placed on Grade Level 6 have not been collecting their allowances for the past nine years.
The Secretary General of the Borno State Medical Students Association (MSA), Alhaji Aliyu Abubakar said many medical students have dropped out of school or changed their course due to lack of support.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Original post:
Nigeria: Shettima Approves N20,000 Monthly Allowance for Medical Students