August 06, (THEWILL) — The Provost of Ebonyi State College of Health Science and Technology, Ngbo, Elder Stephen Nwamkpuma, has disclosed that the institution would soon introduce the use of computer-based tests for examinations, saying that the era of pen and paper would soon be a thing of the past in the college.
Elder Stephen Nwamkpuma stated this while interacting with the press in Abakaliki.
The Provost emphasised that a key turning point came in 2019 when a bill formally establishing the college was signed into law—an achievement he credited to the then Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly, now Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
“Before 2019, we lacked legal backing. I came in as Provost in February of that year, and by May, the bill establishing us was signed into law. That singular act gave us the leverage to secure accreditation from relevant regulatory bodies,” Nwamkpuma stated.
He added that between December 2024 and June 2025, the college received full accreditation for its three major programmes: Community Health, Environmental Health, and Health Information.
The Provost attributed the progress to the support of the state government under Governor Nwifuru and the Commissioner for Health, Dr Moses Ekuma.
“We are fortunate to have an education-friendly governor. His administration’s support, especially in infrastructure and staffing, made our accreditation possible”, he said.
Nwamkpuma also highlighted several infrastructural upgrades, including renovation of student hostels with improved water supply, construction of a school access road, and installation of a new main gate.
He further revealed that a Computer-Based Test (CBT) system is being introduced in line with national standards for examinations.
On student welfare, he said, “We no longer operate caretaker student leadership. We now have a structured student unionism system that has run for about three sessions without disruption.”
The provost appealed for more support, noting that the institution still needs a bus, a befitting auditorium, and expanded laboratory facilities to meet its growing student population and academic demands.
He also reassured the public about the security of students, despite the school’s open boundaries. According to him, local stakeholders and the council chairman are collaborating with the school to ensure the safety of students and staff.
Addressing rumours of employment bias, Nwamkpuma clarified that the college does not directly employ staff and that all applicants go through the civil service process.
In a call to action, he urged well-meaning individuals, NGOs, and the federal government to support the college in its mission to produce skilled health professionals who can contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery in Ebonyi State and beyond.
Sunday Ogbu is a professional journalist with eight - twelve years experience that had worked with various print and online media. Sunday specializes in news reporting with the aim of educating his readers on current social, political and economic occurences within his area of coverage. Sunday is a strong force to work with in the media industry and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. Sunday is inspired daily by his wife and their four children. In his free time, Sunday likes sight-seeing, reading and discussing issues of societal interest.
