By Suleiman Yakubu

Prof. Hamidu Ahmad, a Lecturer and Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, has described positional rivalry and professional supremacy among healthcare practitioners as great threats to the growth and development of the sector.
Ahmad, a former Provost, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), stated this in a keynote address at the maiden scientific conference and alumni meeting of the UDUS College of Health Sciences in Sokoto.
In his paper, tagged "Challenges of Health Sciences Education", the don called on government at all levels as well as stakeholders in the sector to urgently tackle the issues.
He attributed the challenges to greed, selfishness and lack of patriotism among some healthcare providers.
The retired expert lamented that in the past, such attitudes were completely absent as all categories of workers worked in harmony, teamwork, and brotherhood without any rancour.
He stressed that such attitudes were detrimental to the growth and development of professions.
Ahmad advised practitioners to consider themselves subordinates who are interdependent on each other in order to contribute to society.
He listed shortages of manpower, infrastructure, a lack of advanced and relevant equipment, research actualization, needed educational requirement progressions, and a habitable environment as some other challenges in health science education.
The medical doctor advised professional bodies and accreditation agencies to ensure synergy and agree on a curriculum to be used seamlessly, as obtained in other countries.
He cautioned bodies, ministries, and departments against working independently as they were all pursuing the same goal of ensuring efficiency and the desired professionalism.
In a second paper presentation, tagged "Role of Alumni in the Development of Institutions,", Prof. Sama’ila Mungadi said graduated students have relevant roles in contributing to infrastructural development, manpower, and facility enhancements.
Mungadi, an International Urological Surgeon and former Provost of the College, emphasised that through collective coordination of alumni activities, more could be achieved.
He said the achievements comprised professional development, supporting graduated fellows and students in learning, research, and employment opportunities.
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Sule Sa’idu, urged professionals to support their indigenous institutions and cautioned them against leaving the country, which always slowed down the system.
Sa’idu said alumni services are needed, stressing that the school is expanding with more departments and graduating professionals every year.
In his remark, Dr. Sani Gwarzo, a college alumni and present Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the sacrifice and dedication of professionals who decided to stay at the college deserved to be acknowledged.
Gwarzo assured more federal government support in terms of projects and other desirable encouragement and called on other Alumni to use their respective positions and personal efforts to support the institution.
The Special Guest, Dr. Tanko Sununu, an alumni and member representing Yawuri/Shanga/Ngaski federal constituency of Kebbi State, described the event as a homecoming, a reunion for fellow graduates and students.
Sununu, who was the Chairman of the House Committee on Health in the 9th Assembly, reassured the college to facilitate more siting of physical projects and other federal government support.
He described the college as a centre of excellence.
Earlier, the UDUS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lawal Bilbis, and Chief Medical Director of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Prof. Anas Sabir, commended the organisers and assured respective managements of support in all forms, noting that the efforts are serious assistance to the system.
The event witnessed the presentation of lectures by professionals, award presentations, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of alumni, and a dinner.
The Alumni elected Prof. M.O. Oche as President; Prof. Anas Sabir, Vice President; and Associate Prof. Abdulgafar Jimoh, secretary general, among other positions.

By Suleiman Yakubu

The Senate on Thursday in plenary confirmed the appointment of Service Chiefs, nominated by President Bola Tinubu.
The Senate's confirmation was a sequel to the consideration and approval of a motion brought by Senate Majority Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidela (APC-Ekiti), on the confirmation of the shortlisted service chiefs.
The service chiefs confirmed were: Chief of Defence Staff, Maj.-Gen. Christopher Musa; Chief of Army Staff, Maj.-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja; Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla; and Chief of Air Staff, AVM Hassan Abubakar.
Before their confirmation, the Senate suspended Order 1b and Rule 1b to make provision for the admittance of strangers into its chamber.
Those admitted into the chamber included the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Abdullahi Gumel, the nominated service chiefs, and other strangers.
Thereafter, the service chiefs took turns to highlight their career profiles and professional experiences before the Senate resolved into a close session that lasted for three hours for the screening of the nominees.
Earlier, Maj.-Gen. Musa, the nominee for the Chief of Defence Staff, pledged the commitment of the Armed Forces to serve Nigerians in line with the dictates of the Constitution.
He said his nomination was an opportunity to bring his vast experiences to bear for the security and protection of the lives and properties of Nigerians, and he pledged to do his best to justify the confidence reposed in him.
Nominated for Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ogalla said he would put in his best to upgrade the standard he met, assuring Nigerians that he was fully prepared for the job.
According to him, he will improve existing strategies and develop new ones to secure the nation’s maritime waters.
Ogalla said he would collaborate with other services to secure the nation’s waterways, adding that he would initiate continuous monitoring and surveillance to achieve maximum results.
The nominee for Chief of Air Staff, AVM Hassan Abubakar, said he would mobilise the nation’s air power to ensure peace and security in the country, in line with the aspiration of the president.
He commended the efforts of previous leaders of the air force but said a lot more needs to be done to revamp the fighting capabilities of the Nigerian Air Force.
Tinubu had, in a letter addressed to the President of the Senate, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday, sought approval of the Senate to confirm the service chiefs in line with Section 18 (1) of the Armed Forces Act, 2004.