Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu has reassured the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria that his administration will continue to create an enabling environment for the operation of private universities and all institutions of learning in the State to operate optimally.

Governor Ikpeazu who gave the assurance while receiving a delegation of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria led by their Registrar, Dr T. A. B. Sanusi at Government House, Umuahia, who are in the State for the accreditation of the Gregory University Uturu College of Medicine. The Governor noted that health and education remain two cardinal policies of his administration because of their importance in the socioeconomic development of states and nations.

Governor Ikpeazu represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude OKo Chukwu stressed that the Gregory University Uturu College of Medicine if accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will go a long way in giving so many students desiring to study Medicine but could not as a result of limited admission quota the opportunity to study their dream course as Abia State University Uturu remains the only University that offers Medicine as a course in the entire State.

The State Chief Executive reaffirmed that Government will continue to partner the Gregory University Uturu in providing all that is needed for a College of Medicine to be accredited and lauded the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for ensuring that accredited Colleges of Medicine in the country measure up to standard and produce competent medical doctors trained to save life in accordance with the ethics of their profession.

Governor Ikpeazu used the occasion to stress that Abia still remains one of the safest states for investors and business entrepises and commended the Gregory University Uturu for collaborating with Government in uplifting the standard of education, health and the general development of the State.

Earlier in his speech, the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr T. A. B. Sanusi said that they were in the State for their accreditation visit to the Gregory University Uturu, College of Medicine to determine whether they are qualified to be a Medical College in line with accepted standard and lauded the education and health friendly Governor Ikpeazu of Abia State for creating an enabling environment for the private university and other private institutions in the State to thrive, adding that the accreditation of Gregory University Uturu, College of Medicine will widen admission quota of those willing to study medicine in the State and beyond.