Daily Trust - the online edition

An ultra modern eye care centre established by the Ekiti State go-vernment in conjunction with the Cuban government at an estimated cost of over N1billion will commence full operation within the next few months in the state.

According to a press state-ment issued by Mr Segun Ola-tunji, the governor’s Special As-sistant on Media Affairs, Go-vernor Segun Oni disclosed this at the weekend during a recep-tion held in his honour by Ekiti indigenes in Lagos State. He de-clared that the Eye centre which would be the first of its kind in West Africa, has been approved by the Cuban parliament.

Governor Oni disclosed that a team of experts led by the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria , Mr. Elio Savon is already in the state in preparation for the smooth take off of the center. He also said that the sum of N1billion had been earmarked for its operation by the state government in this year’s budget.

He is optimistic that when the center, which will be a "miracle centre’’ for eye care finally takes off, it would cater for eye ailments throughout the West African sub-region and as well provide employment for medical personnel in the State.

On the monthly health intervention programme of the state, Governor Oni disclosed that within his ten months in office, over 120,000 people had directly benefited. He also said that over 10,000 people have been given free eye glasses while over 2,500 needy patients has undergone free surgical operation for various life threatening conditions under the scheme.

Governor Oni pointed out that apart from investing heavily in health care facilities to meet the needs of the people, his administration had also recruited additional 13 specialists in various medical fields into public health care system from the one specialists available in the state when he assumed office.

The governor also said the State Specialist Hospital at Ado-Ekiti has been upgraded to a Teaching Hospital of the state owned university with the recent passage of the university Teaching Hospital law.

Governor Oni hinted that arrangements had been conclu-ded with two multinational firms for the establishment of two Ethanol plants in the state.

According to him, one of the Ethanol plants is designed to use cassava as raw material while the other plant which will use sweet sorghum, is expected to cost over 8.5billion naira. While the cassava based ethanol plant is to take off in Iyemero in collaboration with Chinese Investors, the other plant is being proposed for Ilemeso in Oye Local Govt.

Governor Oni stated that the state was being packaged as the centre for bio-fuel in the country, adding that the government has put over 5000 hectares of land into cassava cultivation to feed the ethanol plants.

On education, Governor Oni disclosed that his administra-tion had in the last ten months initiated some far reaching reforms in the sector.

According to him, boarding system had been reintroduced in some secondary schools while over 600 million naira has been earmarked for the procu-rement of furniture for public primary and secondary schools to put an end to the ugly situation whereby tea-chers and students have to carry desks and chairs to schools. He emphasized that no student or teacher in Ekiti will carry desks to school from September 2008, urging all education agencies to keep to this deadline.