BEVERLY HILLS, October 11, (THEWILL) – Governors of the 19 northern states have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with General Electric Nigeria (G.E.) for the upgrade of healthcare infrastructures across the three zones that make up the region.
Chairman of the Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, signed on behalf of his colleagues while G.E. was represented by its Vice Chairman/President Global Growth, John G Rice and the President, Chief Executive Officer Dr Lazarus Angbazo.
G.E is expected to develop specialised hospitals and diagnostic centres of excellence; build the capacity of healthcare professions; revitalise primary and referral healthcare to support attainment of universal healthcare coverage.
The MoU also stipulates that G.E. is to manage equipment services projects, including technology, services and maintenance and explore local bio-manufacturing solutions.
Shettima urged G.E. to produce practical results by next year saying that the Northern Nigeria Global Economic Re-integration Program (NNGERP), created by the Northern Governors, is to work with GE to drive the implementation, on behalf of the Northern Governors.
Shettima said while the governors have confidence in G.E’s commitment, there was the urgent need for results of the MoU in the coming year to translate partnership ‘from paper to people’.
“I will like to emphasise the wish and commitment of the Northern Governors Forum that by next year, our partnership with G.E should take practical stock of what we should have been able to accomplish,” he said.
“I would wish us to be in any of the Northern States to see what we are able to improve. I will rule out Borno so as not to be selfish. By being able to showcase a practical difference, we will be translating the covenant of our signatures from the pages to the people.”
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