The other day, I was at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi 's gate taking note of branded vehicles that were conveying students from the many schools of Nursing located in Anambra to the hospital for their mandatory Clinical posting.

In the South East, Anambra State seems to have the highest numbers of Schools Of Nursing in the entire region to a very large extent.

When you add up the Departments of Nursing Sciences in Universities which offers Degree in Nursing Sciences, Midwifery and some other qualifications in Nursing after a five years duration study in precisely Nnamdi Azikiwe and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, it becomes clear that Anambra State and the other South Eastern States maybe world apart in that regard.

It is beautiful to know that NAUTH which is Federal government owned tertiary healthcare centre has it's own Teaching Hospital and also supposedly COOUTH too, which is run by the State government.

These above descriptions above leaves Anambra State with these following numbers of functional Schools of Nursing and Departments of Nursing in Universities in the State;

(1). Adazi Ani
(2). Iyi Enu, Ogidi
(3). Nkpor
(4). Ihiala
(5). Amichi
(6). Nnewi (SON & CHS Okofia)
(7). Awka
8 SON Borromeo
(9). SON Alor
(10). SON Waterside Onitsha

The school of Nursing usually run a three year acutely intensive programme during which these students acquire the basic skills in Nursing practises with which they can work anywhere - a lot of students find it difficult to graduate without academic blemishes from these schools.

The degree programme is a five-year course in the University after which they acquire more certifications a bit more than those who passed through the Schools of Nursing.

Having given a clear illustration of what it means to attend a School or College of Nursing and acquiring a Nursing degree in the university, it would amaze you to know that with your Registered Nurse (RN) License, which you get from the School Of Nursing and the other Midwifery certification you can get in a separate school when you finally graduate from the SON for those who want, all you need is to write the international certification examinations to practice Nursing overseas where the course is a huge foreign exchange earner.

We all know that Nursing pays in hard currency when you practise overseas.

Mr. Peter Obi hate him or like him is a man many people who derive joy in calling him names can never ever be like.

That is just the reality, it doesn't matter how much you may want to deride him and call him names, the man has always been ahead of his time.

He was the man who saw that there would be a need someday of these training institutions, so he handed them over to Catholic And Anglican institutions to operate them, train professionals while his government supported them where it was necessary. That was a master stroke by him and his team.

We know that all the Schools of Nursing in Anambra State might have not been instituted by Mr. Peter Obi but take it to the bank when I say that he was responsible for most of them and he inspired alot of religious denominations to invest in the para - medical training sectors to train these professionals.

Deede Alex C. Otti is my Governor at the moment. It would be good to let him know that courses like Nursing Sciences are high paying skills overseas and it would be beautiful to have such more schools erected in the State and if need be, given to very reputable institutions to manage and train more of our youths in such a field.

ABSUTH Aba and FMC Umuahia would serve for their clinical postings, most effectively.

It really takes leadership to transform a society and we can say that what Mr. Peter Obi did in Anambra State till date is still paying off handsomely when it comes to the numbers of people that have moved from here to overseas who are now sending back money to their families to buy lands, houses and invest in businesses in the State.

Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital SON and one of the other training school along the Iyi Enu axis from what I gathered has been upgraded to College Of Nursing Sciences status which means that they would have the capacity to offer a broader range of certification / qualifications with a bit more extended year of study.

There is a reason a lot of men seem to want to kill themselves over coming down to Nigeria to marry Nurses. Your guess is as good as mine when it comes to it's justification.

These Nurses also know that in most of these cases but with some exceptions, that they being female Nurses have become the prize and as such carry themselves in the manner some of them lately do.

Moreso, all I am saying is that, good leadership was responsible for this transformation seen in Anambra State Medical education training. If Abia State government is able to replicate this, it would mean alot to our people.

We must also know, that their fees at SON are not that cheap, so if there is anyway this can be addressed, then that would be soo beautiful.

Having an RN, Midwifery qualification and staying back here to practise bedside Nursing where you earn peanuts, to me is more of a misplaced priority.

Your mates are out there practicing and being responsible for their communities, ask around and do the right things in your own interest Guys. It is wrong to be a Nurse and not be comfortable by world standard.

Even if you don't want to be responsible for your community, earn well and live a beautiful life on your own terms.

We now have so many men venturing into the Nursing profession which is beautiful unlike previously where it was for females majorly.

Anaghị eji afufu anya isi.

©Okeh, Onyekachi