By Francis Nansak Lafia
The Nasarawa State College of Health Science and Technology Keffi ,in Keffi Local Government Area , matriculated not fewer than 1,348 new intakes into the the institution.
Addressing the newly admitted students on Thursday at the premises of the school,the provost Dr Suleiman Abdullahi said 738 of the enrolled students got admission by a successful navigation of the institution’s rigorous traditional weeding examination out of 1,277candidates for professional diploma.
According to him, the remaining 610 secured their admission through JAMB , that included 382 National Diploma and 228 Higher Diploma students.
He said” The occasion marked the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.A chapter filled with opportunities to learn,grow and achieve greatness.Though the ceremony has come a bit later than planned due to unavoidable circumstances,the significance of this moment remains undiminished.
” The threshold of a journey is to shape your future .As Nelson Mandela once said ,” Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” therefore embrace this opportunity and use it to make a difference in your lives and in the lives of others” Dr Suleiman.
Reeling out the mandate of the institution, the Provost averred that the college has made remarkable strides over the years ,aimed at attaining visionary mission of cultivating capable and skilled human resources for primary and secondary health service through accredited course,by expanding to five schools with twelve departments.
” We are proud to have received accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education,for Six National Diploma and Three Higher National Diploma courses.Tuese achievements is a testament to the dedication of our staff and the support of our leader particularly the visitor of the college,Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule” He added.
The provost Dr. Suleiman further revealed that during the year under review, the college presented 1,514 candidates to the various board for National Exams out of which 1,312 passed representing 85% of average scores with 28 having distinction in their results.
He disclosed that the current overhead allocation to the college is grossly inadequate to meeting essential expenses and that the college is faced with acute shortage of professional human resources,which memo was forwarded for consideration to meet the demand of HND requirement.
Other challenges as revealed by the provost include inadequate quota indexing of students by the various regulatory bodies given to the influx of applicants during examination period.
