CHRISTIAN ABURIME
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has called for a reinforced “tripartite partnership” between the federal government, sub-national governments, and the private sector as the essential formula for moving Nigeria forward.
The Governor made this call in Oraifite during a symbolic distribution ceremony of 40-foot containers filled with medical books and journals to tertiary institutions across the country. The initiative was sponsored by the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation (SEOF) to bolster medical education in Nigeria.
In his speech, Governor Soludo lauded Sir Emeka Offor for his consistent humanitarian interventions, describing his efforts as “truly progressive.” He noted that while the government is working to reform primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare simultaneously, private sector support is the “missing link” that accelerates success because eighty percent of the resources are in their hands. “People should live to matter by the impacts they leave behind,” Governor Soludo remarked, framing philanthropy as a legacy issue rather than a mere act of charity.
The Governor recalled that when the removal of the fuel subsidy created significant economic pressure, Sir Emeka Offor was among the first to respond to the federal government’s call for palliatives, donating over 200,000 bags of rice to vulnerable citizens.
Issuing a direct appeal to Nigeria’s wealthy elite, Governor Soludo urged them to emulate Offor’s example by mobilizing resources for the public good. He emphasized that the government cannot carry the burden of national development alone.
“We need everyone to do something, no matter how small,” Soludo stressed. “A tripartite partnership is required to move Nigeria forward.”
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, also attended the event, noting that President Tinubu’s administration is focused on “touching the lives of the people.” He commended the SEOF for leading the way in human capital development, stressing that the quality of healthcare depends heavily on the quality of the people trained to provide it.
The distribution included: current Medical Books & Journals: Sourced from the United States for selected federal tertiary medical institutions across all six geopolitical zones; provided entirely free of charge to the institutions.
Sir Emeka Offor explained that the donation aims to strengthen the learning environment of medical schools and teaching hospitals, ensuring that the next generation of Nigerian doctors and researchers have access to up-to-date academic resources.
The event concluded with a symbolic presentation of the books and a tour of the warehouse where the medical resources are stored.