RESOURCE CENTRES

TO ALL HEADS OF DEPARTMENT AND OSN MEMBERS

RESOURCE CENTRES - PHASE I

The following centres have been approved for Resource Centres in the Phase I of the ICO project in Nigeria. Congratulations!

1.. 1. National Eye Centre, Kaduna
2.. 2. Guinness Eye Centre, Onitsha
3.. 3. Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos
4.. 4. University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin
5.. 5. Univeristy of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar
At the meetings held in New Orleans between your President representing OSN and the executive members of ICO and ICO Foundation,  the initial grant of $25,000.00 approved for resource centres in Nigeria was increased to $100,000.00 (one hundred thousand dollars). All the selected centres were approved for full internet connectivity in the first phase. This will include free access to about 300 journals all over the world.

In addition, the AAO through its Executive Vice President, Dunbar Hoskins MD, has most kindly approved the distribution of the complete sets of its BSCS to 15 centres in the country free of charge .

All the centres chosen, above, must without fail, get ready two rooms (one average and the other large enough for a classroom for 30 pupils) as per agreement signed. They must also be ready to implement all the terms of agreement sent to the OSN Secretariat. It is our hope that the installation of computers and internet will be done by the end of December or January 2005. An investigating team from the National Eye Institute, Bethsida will pay a visit to the centres in January 2005.

Please note that the use of these facilities will be monitored and the impact on the training program will be evaluated. A favourable outcome will enable the implementation of the PHASE II which is the provision of the same facilities to other training centres not on the Phase I project as well other packages of assistance.

The ICO and ICO Foundation have bent over backwards to help us and I have not only staked my reputation and honour, I have vouched for our ability to manage the resources provided and that we would  NOT MAKE ANY EXCUSES for any shortcomings. May I also inform you that the whole world is looking at us, VERY READY to help us and looking forward to actually participating in the re-engineering process for the enhacement of ophthalmological education in Nigeria. There is a GREAT FUTURE FOR OPHTHALMOLOGY AND OPHTHALMIC EDUCATION IN NIGERIA if we cooperate.



Kindly remember to thank specially Drs Hannah Faal, Daniel Etya'ale and Professor Adenike Abiose who as members of the ICO team have championed your cause and who must be given credit for the favours received. If we had ten such selfless persons in every sector of our government, Nigeria would be paradise on earth.



B.G.K. Ajayi

President, OSN