Professor Muhammed Kuta Yahaya, a Professor of Agricultural Extension and Development Communication, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ibadan, and former Secretary to Government of Niger State, represented the Etsu Nupe in his capacity as Magatakarda Nupe at the wedding Fatiha of Chief of Staff (CoS) to the governor of Niger state Abu Sani Bello (ABU Lolo) . From academic gown to traditional gown, he wears them well.
Prof Kuta Raps WTO on dumping of Paraquat in Nigeria
By, our reporter
Mohammed Kuta Yahaya, has urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the need to condemn dumping of paraquat in Nigeria.
The Professor of Agricultural Extension & Development Communication, Consultant/ Expert in Strategic Communication & Citizens Engagement, Department of Agricultural Extension & Rural Development, University of Ibadan, made this known recently in Abuja at an interactive meeting with the Director-General, World Trade Organisation, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
Professor Kuta who was representing the Coalition Against Paraquat (CAP) in its vested interest in advocating against Paraquat dumping in Nigeria noted that a follow up team should go to Geneva to continue pushing for the ban:
“It was a top moment for me to have had that singular opportunity to continue to represent the interest of CAP in every opportunity that I have.
Finally, it is strongly recommended that a follow up team maybe inevitable to Geneva to make sure that a forum is created where an advocacy team is led there to really impress on her so that she can talk to all manufacturers across the globe, not to go and dump paraquat in Nigeria”.
The WTO boss, Dr Okonjo-Iweala who expressed concern on the situation, stated she would take the bastion of advocacy to Geneva, adding that the further dumping must be halted immediately.
Professor Kuta expressed gratitude to Dr Sani Nasir Gwarzo, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Industries, Trade and Investment for the opportunity to push against dumping of toxic herbicide in Nigeria.
Meanwhile prof Kuta call on Nigerians to continue to support President Muhammadu Buhari for his developmental strides despite the current challenges . He acknowledged Buhari’s diplomatic milestones with outstanding exports in persons of Dr Akinwumi Adesina( AfDB President) . Amina Mohammed ( Deputy Secretary General to UN) prof Tijani Bande( UN Permanent Rep and Chair of 74 Session), AmbassadorBankole Adeoye AU Commissioner for Political Affairs and Security) and now Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala , DG – WTO .
Kuta also added that Professor Ibrahim Gambari, has been of great help, using his office as Chief of Staff to the president and connection as a seasoned diplomat to support Nigerians occupying great leadership positions on international scene.
REMARKS BY PROFESSOR MUHAMMED KUTA YAHAYA AT THE PUBLIC HEARING ON A BILL FOR AN ACT TO ESTABLISH FEDERALUNIVERSITY OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCEINCES, BIDA, NIGER STATE HELD ON 8 MARCH, 2021 AT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY COMPLEX, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE WING, ABUJA.
I am highly honoured to be here today to add my voice in support of this laudable proposal for the establishment of theFederal University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bida, Niger State. Let me specially appreciate Honourable Saidu Musa Abdul, the Member of House of Representatives Representing Bida, Gbako and Katcha Local Government Areas of Niger State, for extending the invitation to me to participate in this important public hearing. This event matters to every well-meaning Nigerlite and Nigerians as a whole, as it will expand the opportunity for many of our qualified candidates, willing to take medicine as a profession. I commend Honourable SaiduMusa Abdul for his quality representation because it takes courage to bring together this galaxy of eminent citizens of Niger State extraction and beyond. Indeed, we share in the good intentions and strong justifications for the establishment of Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences to be located in Bida, Niger State.
2.Permit me to go down memory lane to remind us of the challenge we have to confront head-on especially in Northern Nigeria. North and indeed, Nigeria as a whole is in dire need of more medical practitioners to effectively provide the needed quality healthcare services to its citizenry. You remember when colonial government established the University College, Ibadan, as an extension of the University of London in 1948, it was difficult for Northern Nigeria citizens to secure admission because of competitive requirement. But today that is history. We are therefore lucky today to share this unique moment with one of the pioneer students of Medicine of the University College, Ibadan of northern extraction Emeritus Prof Umaru Shehu, a distinguished Medical Doctor of repute and globally acclaimed still impacting knowledge in Maiduguri and Yobeaxis after serving as Lecturer, Consultant, Vice Chancellor and pro-chancellor of several universities in the last seven decades. We also have here another other distinguished beneficiary of that great effort, such as an excellent Cardiologist, Professor Jibril Aminu whose outstanding performance still a reference point.Hence, we like to use this opportunity to celebrate another genius in medical science, when the Katsina state born best graduating medical doctor, Sale Mohammed Dandere carted away all the 13 prizes in Medicine. Some of the awards bagged include, best in physiology, best in Surgery, best in Hematology, best in Anatomy, best in Histopathology, best in project, best in biochemistry and best in chemical pathology but is today the United Kingdom for his Master Degree courtesy Senator Ahmad Baba Keita. This young man deserves Katsina State Government scholarship to enable him proceed to the best medical school for specialist training before been wasted like the Engineeringscientist, Ayodele Awojobi, a graduate of ABU Zaria who was described as a rather troubled genius but subsequently wasted. He died of frustration because our environment could not contain, let alone utilise his talents. Therefore, we must give due acknowledgement to President Buhari for bringing back to serve his fatherland another genius Engr Jelani Aliyu MFR, from Sokoto State who designed the first electrical car for General Motors in the USA and returned to honor the country despite his flourishing career and comfort zone.
3.In Medical science there is no room for mediocrity and ‘let my people go’ syndrome as in other courses but indeed other gifted individuals with exceptional abilities and we have so many of them across the country and in the north central in particular! There is no doubt North-Central States are underserved and completely out of easy access to scholarship in medicine and health sciences as happening in other zones. This will be major catchment for talents from FCT, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa, Benue, Kwara north that is almost Niger South and Plateau especially other states with brilliant results but the low carrying capacity. This Federal University of Medicine and Health Sciences, to be located in Bida is going to be for all Nigerians especially the marginalized states above.
4.It is, therefore, high time we create opportunities for our gifted hands to thrive and contribute their quota to the development of our society. Having this bill passed is an advantage to Nigeria and indeed, Niger State to produce more medical doctors to meet the desired healthcare services. It is important to reiterate that North-Central and Niger State in particular lagged behind in terms of degree awarding tertiary institutions in medicine and health sciences. Evidences show that Niger State houses over one thousand public and private health facilities. Unfortunately, the medical practice is onedoctor to about nine thousand patients, far worse than the national average of 1 doctor to 4,000 population against World Health Organisation’s recommendation of 1 doctor to 600 population for effective healthcare delivery.
Advantages of Bida Location
5.The community is endowed with vast landmass, Bidaalready has Federal Medical Centre (FMC) that can be converted to a Teaching Hospital. It is already a referral centrewith experts and consultants in all areas of medicine. Historically, Bida is a very significant town, and I am happy, His Royal Highness, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr.) Yahaya Abubakar is here physically, supported by eminent title holders, too numerous to mention. I am very confident that our royal father who is here with us will provide nothing less than 200 hectares of land for the take-off of this university. And all the indigenous people, both in diaspora will donate facilities that will provide temporary succor in terms of accommodation for staff and students and take-off. The same goes forHis Excellency, AlhajiDr Abubakar Sani Bello, the Executive Governor of Niger State, who is passionate about development agenda of Niger State. Also, an educationist, administrator, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, Chief Servant and former Governor of Niger State, my boss, is also here to add credence to this wonderful occasion. Also, here with me is patriot, Dr Malami Shehu Ma’aji from the presidency who single handedly went in search of the Katsinaborn genius Dr Sale Dandere.
6.Distinguished Members of National Assembly, we thank you for given us this opportunity to air our views on this matter. Distinguished guests, we must be reminded that the journey to medical practice is not a tea party. In the academia, we don’t joke with medics because human life is involved. The challenge remains as we don’t have the required number of medical doctors’ ratio to patients. If you go to any medical facility especially in the Northern part of Nigeria, which we are all aware the number doctors’ ratio to patients is incredibly too wide to cope with. Regrettably, the situation is worsened in recent time with outbreak of covid-19. Therefore, something deliberate has to be done and that is why all hands must be on deck to support this people-oriented initiative beyond politicking.
7.On this note, let me not pre-empt many other people. But the good news is that the social and economic dislocation of Northern Nigeria is not an excuse to pursue higher possibilities in learning. I am aware that any opportunity given to anybody from across Niger to the fringes of the desert of the Sahel, any opportunity in the academic setting is synonymous to excellence. So, there is no biological explanation for our situation. The social dislocation that we are temporarily dealing with will also come to pass. But this is one of the windows of opportunity for keeping our young people busy in academic setting so that they can pursue relevant and interesting modules for learning and excelling, and serving humanity in the end.
8.Finally, I have the belief that with the population 200 million, we still have more opportunities to provide institutions that can provide learning and teaching environment that is conducive with well-motivated staff, excellent equipment, for both teaching and learning, research and indeed with the current level of health tourism, moving to other countries with less endowments in terms of human and material resources for health tourism is unacceptable. And these are the kind of windows that can change all for good for Nigeria. NASS must help our universities with new funding mechanism and accountability formula to save the nation’s human capital development agenda.
9.I congratulate us all, and I pray passionately that this House will consider and expeditiously pass this into law for the good of all Nigerians.
Thank you.2
It is my pleasure to share the unadulterated truth God's word with you without any church doctrinal bias
A Bosswagon limited
Servant Media 