German Varsity to Design, Operate Private Medical Varsity in A’Ibom

Okon Bassey in Uyo

A Germany university, the University of Hamburg (UKE), has expressed its willingness to partner in the execution of the proposed Thompson and Grace Medical University (TGMU) and the Specialty Hospital in Afaha Obong community of Abak Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

The authority of the German university in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in Uyo, agreed to design and operate the conglomerate of Thompson and Grace Medical City.

Rising from a three-day seminar held at the Le-Meridien Ibom Hotel, Uyo, the Dean of the Medical Faculty of the University of Hamburg, Prof. Uwe Koch-Gromus endorsed the document, saying that the institution was satisfied with the proposal, while Dr. Isaac Amos signed on behalf of his conglomerate.

The event was witnessed by the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Schlagheck; Prof. Ansgar Wilhelm Lohse, Vice-Dean, Medical Faculty of the University of Hamburg; Prof. Frank Nobert Riedet, foremost pediatrician and former Medical Director of the Altona Children’s Hospital, Hamburg; Mr. Armin Huttenlocher, CEO of RES Public Affairs, Corporate Affairs and consultant to the project from Berlin; Mr. Ekemini Amos, Projects/Technical Services of TGIL; and Dr. Emmanuel Umoh, President/CEO of XEQ Solutions, Plano, Texas, USA, among others.

Speaking on the theme ‘How Education Health and Medicine can be transformed to benefit Nigeria and Africa’, the President of Thompson and Grace Investment Limited, Dr. Isaac Amos said the MoU signed by his group of companies and the German university to “consult in the design and operation” of Thompson and Grace Medical University and Thompson and Grace Specialty Hospital (TGSH), was a big buster to the actualisation of the project.

He stressed that the partnership would enable both parties to jointly “develop and provide structure, curriculum and practical programme, as well as administrative and management processes for the medical university and specialty hospital.

“From the term of the MoU, the medical facilities would also enjoy training and support in capacity building in the areas of medical education, clinical research and healthcare delivery processes and procedures, as well as healthcare management and administration.”

According to him, the partnership would enable the health facilities to benefit from “increased number of highly trained and competent physicians, other healthcare professionals and facilities to meet the health needs of a rapidly changing Nigerian society.”
The MoU harped on the development of academic cooperation in international education in areas of mutual interest and expertise.

“The collaboration established by this MoU will enhance the intellectual life and cultural development at both institutions, and will contribute to increase international cooperation. To meet the strategic objectives, UKE and T&GIL have agreed to explore their mutual interests “in academic activities” as listed in the MoU.”

On his part, Koch-Gromus said “the UKE, located in Hamburg and T&GIL, with head office located in Lagos, signed the MoU for the development of academic cooperation in international education in areas of mutual interest and expertise.

“The collaboration established by this MoU will enhance the intellectual life and cultural development at both institutions and will contribute to increased international cooperation.”
During a presentation at the seminar, a Professor of Pediatrics, Emmanuel Ekanem, of the University of Calabar, said Nigeria, like many parts of the developing world, is undergoing epidemiological transition from predominantly infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases (NCDs).