The Rivers State Government has upgraded the State School of Nursing and Midwifery to a College status.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh who made the disclosure also said the college has been approved and accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
Speaking at the school during the official handover of 86 nursing and midwifery books donated by an old graduate of the school to equip the school’s library for use by the students, the commissioner also noted that it is going to be an Higher National Diploma awarding institution with general nursing, midwifery as a department and public health nursing as another department.
Represented by the Director, Nursing Services in the State Ministry of Health, Mrs. Doris Igbanibo, the Commissioner highlighted the importance of giving back to every institution of learning by each graduate who knows the value built in them through learning. “Book is something great for any individual to have and by giving this, you have empowered the society and building a better future for every child who has the opportunity to learning,” she said.
She expressed appreciation to the effort of the old student by donating books for the second time to encourage learning in the school, adding that the best gift one can give out to any child is a book.
“This is an act of giving back to the society and it worth emulating by the students today’’.
The Commissioner challenged the students to make good use of the books donated to them, stressing that reading through each book will broaden their horizon in the nursing profession and make them stand out.
Speaking earlier, an old graduate of the school and presently the Associate Vice President of Nursing Practitioners in United State of America, Dr. Evelyn Senewo stated that her understanding of the importance of nursing education and the impact it has in shaping the future healthcare professionals globally, inspired her to donate books as a way of giving back to the school.
‘’ That is why I built these burning desire to donate books to the college of nursing and midwifery library knowing if well equipped, the wealth of knowledge and information that would be beneficial to the current and future generation will be enormous,” she said.
Dr. Senewo further called on other alumni to consider giving back to the school in any way possible. “Whether it be through donations, mentorship or volunteering, we can make a difference and ensure that these colleges continue to thrive for generations to come,” she said.
