By Onwa Ekor
The College of Health Technology, Calabar, at its 19th matriculation ceremony recently, formally admitted 811 new students into various programmes.
The number of matriculants this session displayed a remarkable increase of more than 200 from the previous academic session.
Cross River Commissioner for Health, Dr Henry Ayuk, who represented the state government, announced plans to establish a fully functional, state-owned College of Medicine before the end of Governor Bassey Otu’s administration in 2031.
According to him, the proposed institution will enable the state control its medical admissions quota while creating a sustainable pipeline of skilled health professionals.
Ayuk reaffirmed the administration’s focus on strengthening primary healthcare, which he described as the pillar of healthcare, admitting that over 80% of successful applicants in recent state health sector recruitment were products of technical and health training institutions considering its importance to the service.
Commending the leadership of the institution, the Commissioner pledged government support to address pressing infrastructure needs.
Ayuk who charged the matriculating students to uphold discipline and cultivate confidence in their chosen professions, reminded them that their roles are as vital as those of medical doctors.
Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Samuel Urom, reiterated the institution’s vision to upgrade to a Polytechnic status to enable access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions, while enlarging its programme offerings.
Urom appealed for financial support to elevate the Pharmacy and Optometry programmes from certificate to National Diploma (ND), introduce new ND and HND courses, including Dispensing Opticianry, Community Health, Epidemiology & Disease Control, as well as Public Health Technology, including addressing staff welfare through regularization and promotion, even as he called for the completion of the abandoned hostel project.
The Provost, Dr. Ita Edet Ikpeme, presented a detailed status update, celebrating the surge in student enrolment and key institutional achievements including securing A-level accreditation for four departments: Optometry, Environmental Health ND, Health Information Management, and Computer Science.
“These milestones,” Ikpeme said, “contributed to the College’s impressive overall performance rating of 90%.”
Highlighting ongoing infrastructure development, such as the construction of laboratories and new staff offices, as well as the Governor’s donation of a Hilux vehicle, he stressed the need for the establishment of a JAMB-standard CBT centre and the provision of official vehicles for principal officers.
To the new entrants, the Provost charged them to uphold integrity, discipline and respect, describing them as the “transformative force which our healthcare system requires.”
The ceremony attracted dignitaries including the representative of the Commissioner for Education, Dr. (Mrs.) Blessing Ugbe; the Special Adviser to the governor on Health, Dr. Ekpo Ekpo Bassey; traditional rulers; members of the Academic Board and other stakeholders.
