PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), Port Harcourt held her 2nd Convocation Ceremony for the Award of Bachelor’s Degrees and Presentation of Prizes on Tuesday, 13th December, 2022. The Convocation Ceremony, which was also hosted on a virtual platform (zoom), was for the Award of Bachelor of Science Degrees and Prizes to successful graduands who have been trained, examined and found worthy in character and learning. PUMS graduated a total of thirty-nine (39) students from the Departments of Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing Science, Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology and Pharmacology: Six (6) students graduated with 1st Class, twenty (20) with 2nd Class Upper Division and thirteen (13) with 2nd Class Lower Division Honors.
In the cause of the ceremony the students and staff of PAMO University of Medical Sciences presented a birthday card and other gift items to the Rivers State Governor, His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS(Africa), Life Bencher to mark his 55th birthday.
The Former Attorney General & Minister of Justice, Federal Republic of Nigeria – Chief Kanu Agabi, CON, SAN. delivered the Convocation Lecture on a topic: Discipline as Panacea for National Growth. The guest lecturer briefly reflected on the state of the nation and noted that the reason why the nation has degenerated to the extent it has is because we fail to offer reproof when others are acting unethically. He further stressed the need for national integration and unity, and that it begins with the leaders.
He admonished students and graduands that the health practitioner is the best-known Universalist. Noting that all that qualifies a man or woman to command their attention is his or her health need, and that it does not matter the religion or ethnic group that the patient comes from. “All that matters to you is that the patient needs medical help.” He said.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael F. Diejomaoh MBBS, FRCOG, FICS, FWACS, FMCOG, CERT ATMF warmly welcomed all to the 2nd Convocation Ceremony of our great institution. He congratulated all the academic staff who have imparted knowledge on the students, parents and guardians of the graduands who have supported them through their training. He further gave a brief history of PAMO University of Medical Science, a specialized premier private medical university with the training based on cutting edge medical education models which secured its full operating license from the Federal Government on 7th April, 2021. This was three (3) years after the issuance of the provisional license.
He noted that all courses in the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences and Allied Health Sciences have been fully accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) with excellent dedicated academic staff. He expressed his deep gratitude to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Rivers State, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS(Africa), Life Bencher for his immense and sustained support through the scholarship scheme to Rivers State scholars from 2018 till date, and substantial grants for infrastructural development projects. “Thank you so much your Excellency for your support and generosity”, he said. He enjoined the graduands to be good ambassadors of PAMO University of Medical Sciences.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, His Excellency Sir Dr. Peter Odili, CON, KCSGG, GSSRS, KSJI lavished praises on the Rivers State Governor, the “Special VISITOR”, His Excellency Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS(Africa), Life Bencher whom he described as the best Governor that Rivers State and Nigeria has ever produced, and wished him a very happy birthday. He thanked the Guest Lecturer, Chief Kanu Agabi for such a remarkable lecture. He expressed gratitude to God for bringing the University thus far. “To God Be the Glory.” He said. He further thanked the Chancellor, His Excellency, Gen. Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, GCFR for being present at this great occasion and prayed that the Almighty God will continue to guide him. He also acknowledged the effort of Hon. O. K. Chinda and Dr. A. Sambo for their sacrifices towards the establishment of PAMO University of Medical Sciences. He noted that no private university has moved in the pace that PAMO University of Medical Sciences has. He appreciated the effort of the Senate, Management, Academic and Non-Teaching staff of the University for making this day come through.
He further charged the graduands to uphold the PUMS values they have been imbibed with and apply them in their life outside of PUMS, diligently. “Go out there, show them that you’re different, treat your patients with dignity and see them as your employers” he said.
Finally, he promised to support the graduands as long as they uphold the discipline and character embedded in them here in PAMO University of Medical Sciences.
The Chancellor and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, His Excellency, Gen. Abdulsalami A. Abubakar, GCFR thanked the Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Nyesom Wike, for his unrivalled support to the University. He congratulated the Governor on his achievement in the development of Rivers State and felicitated with him on his birthday. “You have remained the greatest pillar of support to this university” he said.
He noted that the university has made a significant stride within the shortest time since inception and its impact on the tertiary education in Nigeria.
He congratulated the graduands and further encouraged them to uphold strongly on that which has been impacted in them during their stay in the university as they embark on the journey ahead. He also congratulated the Pro-Chancellor, His Excellency Sir Dr. Peter Odili, CON, KCSGG, GSSRS, KSJI for his vision and sacrifice in setting up PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS), and his wife Hon. Justice Mary Odili for her support. He concluded by assuring all of the Board of Trustees’ commitment to a sustained infrastructural and academic development of the institution towards its emergence as a globally recognized University.
The Valedictory Address was delivered by the best graduating student Miss NATHANIEL Deborah Chimeka of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science on behalf of the 2022 graduands. She expressed their heart felt gratitude to the Pro-Chancellor His Excellency Sir Dr. Peter Odili, and his wife Justice Mary Odili, for whom through their love for education birthed PAMO University of Medical Sciences that has afforded them the opportunity to be groomed under one of the top medical teaching and learning environments.
She thanked the Rivers State Government through the generosity of the Executive Governor of Rivers State, His Excellency Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, who made them beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme initiated by the Nyesom Wike administration. She further thanked the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Professors, Doctors, Lecturers, family and loved ones for all their love and support. She encouraged the students who are still undergoing training to stay on the path of success which requires a lot of discipline, self-denial and trust in God.
She assured all that they will make concerted effort to distinguish themselves from the crowd and continue to excel and make the institution proud.
The “Special Visitor” His Excellency, Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, CON, GSSRS, POS(Africa), Life Bencher, Executive Governor of Rivers State, ably represented by the Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Rivers State, Prof. Prince Chinedu Mmom JP, he congratulated the graduands for the success they have attained in completing their degree program in this university and acknowledged their parents for their support to achieve this success. He further appreciated the Pro-Chancellor for his vision and sacrifice towards the establishment of this university. He noted that PAMO University of Medical Sciences has within a short time transformed into an enviable world-class institution that has impacted the lives of our children and the nation at large.
He further stated that the Rivers State Government shall continue to support the University for its relevance and consistence in education advancement in Rivers State, especially in the production of doctors and other allied health professionals for the betterment of the health sector in Rivers State and beyond. He stressed that the scholarship is part of a deliberate effort by the Rivers State Government to increase the production of doctors and other allied health professionals in Rivers State. He reinstated the promise of the Rivers State Government to support any private university established in Rivers State by an indigene of Rivers State.
He announced the support of N500, 000,000 to the university by the Rivers State Government. He also commended the entire Staff and Management of the University for their hard work and their sacrifices that have enabled the University to achieve significant presence in the knowledge landscape of this country. Finally, he congratulated the graduating students for the success they have attained in completing their degree program in this university.
