Foundation To Institute Professional Chair In Unical

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By; VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
The Board of the Professor Bassey Andah Foundation has announced its intention to endow a professorial Chair in the Bassey Andah Institute of Asian and African Studies in the University of Calabar.
The laudable intent of the Foundation was disclosed at the 19th Bassey Andah Memorial Lecture held at the Senate Chambers of the University with the theme “The Challenges of Health Care Delivery for all ages in Nigeria”.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, the immediate past Prelate and Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Prof Emele Uka and the Director of Institute of Niger Delta Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Prof Abi Derefaka disclosed that the professorial Chair to be endowed is for the promotion of the study of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Both jointly stated that it was appropriate that the “Chair” be in Archaeology and Anthropology since that was the field of study of the Late Professor Bassey Andah and where he attained exceptional feats by his brilliant and distinguished academic achievements.
They revealed that the Foundation has commenced the process of setting up a committee that will work out the funding package and appealed to participants at the lecture and all people of goodwill to support the good initiative that will benefit the University and society at large.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Zana Akpagu who was the special guest at the occasion stated in proud terms that UNICAL has a peculiar fondness for knowledge delivery that consequently translates into pragmatic benefits for educational institutions and the society at large.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Admin), Prof Lucy Udida, lauded the tenacity of the foundation in sustaining the series of lectures across several disciplines over the years and the robust effort displayed in integrating the activities of the Foundation with the University.
Akpagu pledged the continuous partnership of the University to the Foundation and challenged them to take advantage of all benefits that the mutual relationship will offer to both partners.
In his lecture titled “The Challenges of Health Care Delivery for all ages in Nigeria”, the guest speaker, a professor of Disciplinary Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof Michael Asuzu identified “National dependence on Development Partners, dysfunctional nature of National Primary Health Care Agencies, and inter-disciplinary,inter-professional and inter-cadre misunderstandings as some of the factors promoting what he called a “ diseased health system” in Nigeria.
Other obstacles stated by the lecturer included lack of understanding and oppositions to the disciplines and paradigms of Community Health Care, Non- existence of federating units for any true federation, and  universal selfishness and corruption.
Asuzu in proffering solutions to the problems challenged government to demonstrate political will in confronting health challenges, health workers to exhibit professionalism and states to become true federating units.
The event which had the former Chairman of ICPC, Barr Ekpo Nta as Chairman of the occasion was widely attended by the Academia, Royal Fathers, Staff of Calabar Museum, Students from different secondary Schools and Health Professionals.

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