In a bid to revamp public utilities across Cross River State, the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Public Utilities, Engr. Dr. Jerome Egbe KSM, embarked on a needs assessment tour of the College of Health Technology, Calabar, today March 12, 2025.
The visit forms part of a statewide initiative to identify and restore non-functional public infrastructure, aligning with Governor Otu’s "First People’s Mantra", which prioritizes the well-being of citizens and economic growth through infrastructural development.
Engr. Egbe emphasized the importance of rehabilitating public utilities to enhance their efficiency, encourage industrial growth, and create a conducive environment for investment in the state.
"This tour is necessary to assess the state of public utilities and identify areas where the government must intervene. Many institutions, including this college, have pressing infrastructural challenges that hinder growth and academic excellence. Our goal is to ensure that these facilities are restored and fully functional," he stated.
During an interactive session with the college’s management, Special Adviser explained that his visit served as both a familiarization tour and an inspection of abandoned projects. He assured the school’s leadership that the government was committed to ensuring that critical infrastructure within public institutions received the necessary attention.
"This is the first College of Health in the state, and I recognize that it cannot advocate for itself. However, as Special Adviser, my team and I will speak on its behalf and ensure that its needs are brought to the government’s attention," he said.
He further stressed that the government's presence in the institution was essential to improving academic standards and ensuring that students and staff enjoy the full benefits of the "Season of Sweetness", a term associated with Governor Otu’s administration.
Welcoming the Special Adviser and his entourage, the Provost of the College, Elder Dr. Ita Ikpeme, expressed gratitude for the visit and shared insights into the institution’s major challenges.
He revealed that the college was awaiting accreditation for four key programs, including:
Environmental Health (HND)
Health Information (HND)
Dispensing Opticianry (ND)
Computer Science (ND)
Additionally, he mentioned that resource inspections were due for Pharmacy, Radiography, and Medical Laboratory programmes, along with newly proposed programmes such as Public Health Technology, Epidemiology & Disease Control, and Dental & Surgery Technology.
The Provost lamented that the accreditation process was being delayed due to financial constraints, stating that the institution required approximately ₦9 million to facilitate the process.
Beyond accreditation hurdles, Dr. Ikpeme mentioned several pressing infrastructural challenges affecting the college’s operations, including:
Severe manpower shortages, which have placed an enormous strain on academic and administrative staff.
Lack of operational vehicles for the movement of principal officers, making administrative tasks more difficult.
Erratic power supply, with the institution’s 500kV power plant currently grounded, disrupting essential services.
Water supply issues, affecting both students and staff.
The need for digitalization, which is critical for ensuring smooth accreditation processes and academic administration.
Dr. Ikpeme passionately appealed for government intervention, emphasizing that without immediate support, the college might struggle to meet accreditation standards set by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). He urged the state government to address the institution’s infrastructure needs to ensure a conducive learning environment for students and staff.
After the assessment tour, Engr. Egbe reassured the Provost and his team that the state government was committed to addressing their concerns.
He affirmed that he would escalate their requests to the appropriate authorities to ensure that the College of Health Technology receives the necessary government support to function optimally.
As part of the statewide public utilities revitalization plan, Engr. Egbe’s visit to the college marks an important step in strengthening the education sector and ensuring that public institutions across the state are well-equipped to deliver quality education and services.
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