The Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) has again come under the spotlight of the international community as the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Lagos, conferred full membership on some staff of the university.

This is even as it is currently working on a partnership document with the university on foreign language training, research, documentation as well as providing a platform for international exposure through the Institute of Foreign Languages and Bio-Medical Translations (IFL-BT).

In a ceremony held in on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at the Conference Room of the university, some BMU and IFL-BT Staff were conferred with full membership by the NIIA in recognition of their scholarly achievements, research and international publications.

The university community was excited to witness two of its valuable members, Dr. Marie Teibowei, Acting Director Institute of Foreign Languages and Biomedical Translations (IFL-BT) and Mr. Geoffrey Alagba, University Bursar received this recognition from such a renowned globally acclaimed institute. NIIA was represented by Dr. Peace Igwe, Senior lecturer with the University of Port Harcourt, and Dr. Hephzibah Suobo, international expert and full member of the NIIA.

While bestowing the honour on recipients, Dr. Peace Igwe noted that the NIIA was does not just award frivolous membership to persons as some organizations do, rather as a serious institution, it conducts thorough background check and research before giving out awards, noting that the institution recognises and admits forward thinking persons that have led to significant innovations and contributions, research and activities, achievement, strategy, progressive and inspirational changes within the public domain and in the international fora.

Dr. Hephzibah noted that the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs was established in 1961, to provide a platform of ideas on what direction Nigeria should follow on international policies, having regards to relationship with the outside world. It has a 75-seat conference hall, equipped with simultaneous translating facilities, an auditorium accommodating 400, and a library wing for 100,000 volumes of books and journals, with an area for a press and pamphlet collection. A central four-floor headquarters building and a three-floor extension accommodates the administrative offices, research and conference rooms. It was credited with initiating a programme for the Institute of interdisciplinary research, symposia, lectures and the publication of monographs and surveys, with emphasis on African affairs. Some of Its objectives are to encourage and facilitate the understanding of international affairs and of the circumstances, conditions and attitudes of foreign countries and their peoples; To provide and maintain means of information upon international questions and promote the study and investigation of international questions by means of conferences, lectures and discussions, and by the preparation and publication of books, records, reports, or otherwise as may seem desirable so as to develop a body of informed opinion on world affairs; To establish contacts with other organisations with similar objects; To achieve the above objectives, the Institute is charged with promoting the scientific study of international politics, economics and jurisprudence.

The Institute is also mandated to: Promote and encourage the study of and research into all aspects of international affairs; Provide such information to the Government of the Federation and members of the public as respects matters concerning international relations; From time to time arrange international seminars and conferences on any matter relating to its objects; Provide facilities for training of Nigerian diplomats and personnel and those of other countries whose vocations relate to international affairs; Promote and undertake such other things and to carry out such other activities as may in the opinion of the Institute be deemed necessary for the attainment of the objects of the Institute.

Speaking earlier on behalf of the Director General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), the Senior Research Fellow, Head, Division of International Economics Relations Efem N. Ubi, Ph.D conveyed his heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Marie Teibowei and Mr, Geoffrey Alagba for their full membership which went through scrutiny. He said the Nigerian Forum is convened by the Institute that brings together scholars from all field to contribute to national development. He said members are open to access intellectual resources available through workshops, seminars and library and publications on Nigeria Foreign Relations. He said the Institute will invite members from time to time to make their own contributions on sustainable development, peace and progress of the Institute and the nation at large.

In a remark, BMU Vice Chancellor, Professor Ebitimitula Nicholas Etebu, thanked the NIIA for putting the spotlight on the university by choosing diligent BMU staff for national enrollment into its prestigious Institute. He said the entire University Community is pleased by this development. The vice Chancellor congratulated Mr. Geoffrey Alagba and Dr. Marie charged them to uphold the virtues of hard work and excellence and to continue to make the Bayelsa Medical University proud and thanked them for their hard work. Professor Etebu remarked that NIIA had visited the BMU in 2019 just at the time the Institute of Foreign Languages and Biomedical Translations (IFL-BT) was being established. During the Visit the Director and the trainee ambassadors toured round the IFL-BT and promised to partner with it. NIIA expressed interest to partner with the IFLBT in the area of foreign language education and collaboration between the two institutions. He noted that in return, the Ag. Director IFL-BT, Dr. Marie also paid a visit to the NIIA in Victoria Island Lagos and had fruitful discussions with Management. The Vice Chancellor said he was committed to concretizing the collaboration with the NIIA.

In his presentation, Dr. Guagha Berezi, BMU Registrar, expressed joy for this privilege and lauded the NIIA for its efforts. He was pleased that member of BMU were among the recipients of the fellowship. He called on the NIIA to facilitate partnerships with universities such as Harvard, the Boston Medical College and BMU can also become a member of the United Nations advisory Council. The BMU was interested in giving more memberships to other staff and to become a corporate member. He said the Bayelsa Medical University would benefit a great deal by collaborating with institutions such as the NIIA. He encouraged staff of the University to take advantage of this institution and build their capacity. He wished the newly appointed Director General well in his familiarization meeting with staff of the NIIA.

Also speaking, Dr. Doris Dortimi, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences underlined the virtues of learning foreign languages for staff of a medical university. She noted that those of the faculty of health sciences would also benefit by gaining such membership given that they a called upon to take part in international conferences on public health globally. She expressed the desire for the NIIA to extend its membership to members of the Public Health department.

Mr. Geoffrey Alagba while responding on behalf of the recipients said he counted it as a privilege to belong to such an international and globally recognised institution. He noted that being a National award, he was motivated to be highly effective at the service of the nation.

Other members of Management present at the ceremony were, Professor P. J. Alagoa, Dedputy Vice Chancellor, Dr. Victor Idiedo, University Librarian, Dr. Angaye Eseimokumo, Dean Students Affairs, Barr John Tatcher Esquire, Legal Adviser, Mr. Okara Internal Auditor, and Mr. Atim King, procurement officer.

•PHOTO: BMU Top Management (VC, DVC, Registrar, Librarian, Legal Adviser, Deans, Procurement Officer, Internal Auditor) receiving NIIA officials

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