By Balarabe Oshiafi, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the conversion of Imo state government owned Alvan Ikoku College of Education to a federal institution to be called Alvan Ikoku Federal College of education.

He also approved the establishment of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO) Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Imo State.

The two issues were made public by Oguwike Nwachukwu, Chief Press Secretary (CPS) and Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma in a release he issued on in Owerri

He said the approvals were grantef during a private meeting the imo state Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma had with President Buhari at the state house Abuja on Friday

The National University Commission recently approved the commencement of a Medical College by FUTO.

Buhari’s approval did not end with FUTO having a Teaching Hospital as he also conceded to Governor Uzodimma’s request for the federal government to fully take over the Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri which earlier approval was suspended since 2015.

“Cognisance of the need for FUTO to have a training ground for her medical students, Governor Uzodimma requested from President Buhari that the Federal Government upgrades the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri to a Teaching Hospital status so that the FUTO medical students can be trained therefore” the statement read 001.

The CPS in the news release also disclosed that presidential approval was also granted to Governor Uzodimma’s request for the full take over of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education by the Federal Government.

“Since 2015 when the federal government indicated interest in the ownership of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, Owerri as a federal institution, the idea is yet to be consummated but the Governor’s meeting with President Buhari has put paid to all encumbrances as the Presidency has given nod to its full take over by the federal government.

In a chat with newsmen after his meeting with President Buhari, according to CPS’s release, Governor Uzodimma said: “The plan is to upgrade the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owerri to a Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri which will be made available for the maintenance and management of the Medical School approved by National University Commission (NUC).

“The President has also given a nod to the full take over of Alvan Ikoku College of Education by the Federal Government which was suspended in 2015. This is following the institution’s compliance with the requisite requirements by the National University Commission.”

“During the chat, Governor Uzodimma also used the opportunity to advise Nigerians to think deeply about what insecurity and economic sabotage have done to the economy of the country. He suggested that Nigerians pay less emphasis on the citizens choices of religion and where they come from, particularly as it concerns the political parties and their choices of candidates for the 2023 general election”, Nwachukwu disclosed.