RismadarVoice Reporters, July 29, 2026
The Rivers State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting quality education, research, innovation and human capital development as essential pillars for strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system and driving sustainable national development.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, stated this while delivering a goodwill message at the 5th Biennial Conference and Call for Papers of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, held at the college auditorium in Oro-Owo, Rumueme, Port Harcourt.
Represented by the Director of Higher Education, Mrs Magdalene Wilcox, the commissioner described the conference theme, “Strengthening Public Health System in Nigeria: Innovation, Equity and Sustainability,” as timely and significant, noting that Nigeria’s healthcare sector requires innovative, inclusive and sustainable solutions to effectively address emerging public health challenges.
Dr Nwagor said academic conferences provide a vital platform for intellectual engagement, knowledge sharing and the presentation of research findings that can generate practical, evidence-based solutions for the country’s health sector.
He commended the organisers for focusing on innovation, equity and sustainability, stressing that innovation is critical to improving healthcare delivery through technology and new ideas, while equity ensures that quality healthcare is accessible to all citizens regardless of their socio-economic background. According to him, sustainability requires policies and systems capable of meeting both present and future healthcare needs.
The commissioner also acknowledged the strategic role of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology in producing skilled healthcare professionals, noting that the quality of healthcare delivery is closely linked to the standard of education, research and professional training provided by higher institutions.
He praised the leadership and members of ASUP for organising the conference and expressed confidence that the deliberations would produce recommendations capable of strengthening Nigeria’s public health system.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Rivers State Government under Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Dr Nwagor said the administration would continue to support initiatives that promote educational excellence, research, innovation and human capital development, describing education as the foundation of an effective healthcare system and a prosperous society.
Earlier, the Provost of the Rivers State College of Health Science and Management Technology, Dr Peace Chigozirim Amadi, called for reforms aimed at making Nigeria’s healthcare system more sustainable. She advocated a shift away from heavy reliance on out-of-pocket healthcare spending and foreign aid, while emphasising the need to decentralise primary healthcare services and upgrade medical facilities to reduce the growing rate of brain drain among health professionals.
Also speaking, the Chairman of ASUP in the institution, Comrade Destiny Obinna, said the conference offered participants an opportunity to reflect, exchange ideas, challenge existing assumptions and develop practical solutions capable of improving healthcare education and service delivery in Nigeria.
The keynote address was delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Prof. Fortune S. Amah-Tariah, while Prof. Kingsley Okpara of the Department of Public Health, Rivers State University, presented the lead conference paper.
A major highlight of the event was the conferment of an Award of Honour on the Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor, in recognition of his innovative policies and contributions to the advancement of education in Rivers State.
