……. Offer #200 million naira schoolarship to 6,000 intending Community birth attendants (Agbebi) Students in 33lg councils of Oyo State.
…………. With the approval of the courses leading to the award of ND, HND certificates, even to the degree level and opportunity to participate in NYSC programe, “You are no more to be seen as quacks”
Dr Fola Akinosun, an educationist of repute has offer provisional Schoolarship to the tune of 200 million Naira worth for not fewer than 6,000 grassroot midwifery birth attendants (Agbebi) across 33 Local government councils of Oyo State, as beneficiaries to study Family Health Care Technology ( FHCT) course leading to the award of National diploma (ND)and Higher National diploma (HND) levels and opportunity to participate in National Youths Service Corp (NYSC) programs where there’s room for exception and exclusion letter for the over-age, (above 30 years old) students.
Akinosun while flagging up the programme at Oranyan health community center, Ibadan south East local government area, Ibadan, recalled his experience of witnessing the travais and challenges facing those practitioners in the olden days, and stressed the need for the grassroot midwifery attendants (Agbebi) across the state, to upgrade their educational status, to avert over long embarrassment facing the community health care operators as a result of not having require certificates and government licence to practice freely withing their various community, whereas, they are actually saving lives at the grassroots of our country
Dr Akinosun urged the participants not to see the event as a gathering seeking political influence, but an avenue for them to tap and leverage on the diverse opportunities and future benefits of the programme, which prepare and provides room for government appointment and self establishment for the beneficiaries.
” I want you to see this offer as a long time benefit, as you are aware that there is not any election around the corner from now untill the next 3 years, therefore ,this is not campaign or seeking political relevance, but this is a passionate project embarked upon about 5 years ago, in collaboration with Dr Osodi and Iya Agbebi(s) who had been the coordinators of the participants.” he stressed.
“With the passion dedicated to the programe, I have spent about #30 million on the project without asking for a dime from government or any individual, and thank God that the programme had reached a greater and successful height.”
“I want to congratulate the beneficiaries, and all of us present here today, that the Federal government through the National Board for Technical Education , (NBTE Kaduna) has accommodated and approved the study of the course tittle FAMILY HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY, which will enable the practitioners, i.e the grassroot community birth attendants ( Agbebi) to upgrade their educational status, to study and be certified with recognized certificates to practice freely without embarrassment from any security agency.
Also, the Ministry of Education had approved the curriculum for the course, and Ministry of health had equally approved to licence the practitioners after the completion of their study to practice as professionals in their various communities” he said .
Akinosun stated further that, the programme will be his second phase achievements in his quest for improvement in educational status of health workers in Nigeria.
“About 14 years ago, I had a similar achievement, whereby God used me to complete what former governor Bola Ige established by commissioned Dr Ajayi Obe to fashioned out training for Dental nurses to make them qualify and creat opportunity for them to be employed by the then government after acquiring relevant educational requirement needed for the job, but the programme was stalled because Bola Ige regime did not made it to a second term.
To God be glory, He has used me to accomplished the task, the dental nursing is now a recognized course in the higher institutions with certificate to practice as qualified nurses specialized on dental services, and by God`s grace this community birth attendants has followed suit and had been accomplished with success story which commutated our gathering here today. He concluded.
Dr Osodi, the coordinator of the programme, in his response extolled the great stride and gesture of Dr Fola Akinosun on Education, Health and other empowerments benefits to humanities .
He stated that if all politicians act and be sensitive as Dr Akinosun’ to the plight of the masses, crimes and agitation for Nation’s break up would have been drastically reduced.
He said further that the job of Agbebi demand, experience and assistance which Dr Akinosun had raised the beneficiaries hope by provision of Schoolarship to equip them educationally, which is a major priority to build on by the practitioners.
He maintained that Community birth attendants were full of experience but lack certificate which Doctors capitalized on to distinguished the professionalism among the practitioners, noted that with provision of Schoolarship for the beneficiaries to upgrade themselves academically by Dr Akinosun’ s gesture today, the story will no longer be the same.
Mrs Kemi Babatunde , Chairperson Ibadan South East Community birth attendants, in her remarks, called on individuals and politicians to emulate Dr Fola Akinosun usual gestures of bridging the gap for the down throding, she said the job of ( Agbebi ) is a passionate work that require public encouragement, modern equipments and materials needed for excellent delivery by the practitioners.
In conclusion Dr Fola Akinosun expressed his satisfaction in the work of community birth attendants (Agbebi), encourage the participants to see the job as divine assignment , grabs and embrace the gesture for their future benefits, he however promise not to relent in his effort to assist and make life more conducive for prospective Youths, unemployed and others in the society.