ITEM community in Bende Local Government of Abia State has lauded President Bola Tinubu for siting Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in its domain.
The President has signed the Bill for establishment of the varsity in Item.
The community’s appreciation contained in a letter under Item Development Association (IDA), was signed by Sir Onwuka Orji (president-general); Bishop Sunday Onuoha (chairman, BoT) and Chief Akwari Ukpabi (grand patron).
It praised the President for his visionary leadership and kind gesture.
The letter reads: “This act, coming when Nigeria faces a pressing need for accessible and high-quality medical education, is transformative.
“You have, through this noble gesture, not only planted a seed of educational excellence in our soil but also offered our children and generations unborn a beacon of hope and opportunity.”
“Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Item, will be a notable institution in the Southeast and nation.
“It will serve as a hub for academic excellence, research innovation and healthcare delivery. It will create employment, stimulate local economy and place our community on the national and global map of medical advancement.”
On importance of the facility, the community said: “The university will touch every home, every heart and every hopeful eye in Item.
“… Sons and daughters of Item, home and in diaspora, celebrate this news with emotion-filled hearts and thanksgiving. It is a dream come true.
“For decades, we have yearned for such, and today, it has become reality, thanks to your magnanimity and people-centred governance.”
Item people also commend House of Representatives Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for his “efforts, legislative acumen and commitment to his constituency,” which led to successful sponsorship and passage of the bill.
It said Kalu has proved to be “a true son of the soil and a shining light of representation. His name shall be etched in the history of Item.”
Item people enjoined Tinubu to ensure “early appropration for the varsity project and commencement of construction so that this noble project would be completed in your first tenure of office.”
They promised full cooperation for actualisation of this project, pledging: “We are ready to cooperate with the authorities to indicate the exact site of the university in our community as well as any other thing that may be required.”
The community promised to guard the project, nurture it and ensure that it blossoms into the great and life-changing institution.
“We pledge our continued support as you work to build a better, stronger and more inclusive Nigeria,” the community leaders said
