The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), has conferred an award of excellence on the Kwara State Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in recognition of the commitment of his administration to the health care sector.

Speaking shortly before the award at an extraordinary National Executive Council Meeting, held at Peace Hotel Ilorin, the NARD President, Dr. Dare Godiya Ishaya, explained that the association's performance rating was not beclouded with sentiments.

Dr. Ishaya affirmed that his association was specifically inspired by the commencement of residency training at the state owned General Hospital in Ilorin.

He reiterated that residency training is a precursor to producing highly qualified specialists, who are expected to be deployed by the state government to actualize its dream of providing quality healthcare delivery services to the citizens.

Dr. Ishaya also used the opportunity to stress the need for the state government to align and integrate the ongoing training programme into the duly legislated Medical Residency Training Programme (MRTP) of the Federal Government.

In his acceptance speech, Governor AbdulRazaq appreciated the gesture and special time dedicated by the National body of the resident doctors to evaluate what we are doing in Kwara towards transforming and changing the narratives in the health care space.

The Governor, who was represented at the occasion by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Raji Razaq, said, “I gladly accept the award and wholeheartedly dedicate it to the overall hard working health workforce in the state.”

Mallam AbdulRazaq, to the cheering delight of the participating doctors, drawn from all over the federation, further acknowledged the new demand to work appropriately with the Ministry of Health and the Office of the Head of Service to build on the foundation we have laid to achieve more.

The award presentation was also extended to past leaders of the association among whom was Dr. Ademola Aderibigbe, a renowned physician and nephrologist (kidney specialist) and a host of other philanthropists who have supported the training pursuit of the Resident Doctors in different parts of the country.

The host Resident Doctors under the leadership of Dr. Dele Abdullahi of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital branch of the Association, appreciated the participants and applauded the commitment of the Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq led administration to health care and the unprecedented support received in accomplishing the various community medical and surgical outreaches, undertaken by the local branch of the National Association.