The Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) has commissioned four rehabilitated mega boreholes at the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS), its Teaching Hospital (SUMASTH) and the Mother and Child Hospital, Igbo-Eno, under the Nigerian Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.
The intervention, facilitated by Governor Peter Mbah’s administration, is aimed at addressing water supply challenges in the institutions and improving access to potable water for students, medical personnel, patients and other members of the university community.
The projects comprise one rehabilitated mega borehole at SUMAS, two at SUMASTH and one at the Mother and Child Hospital, bringing the total to four across the three facilities.
At SUMAS, the newly commissioned borehole serves students, particularly those residing in the male hostel. At the Teaching Hospital, the two boreholes supply water to staff, management and patients, with water reticulated across the hospital’s facilities to support healthcare delivery, hygiene and sanitation.
The additional borehole at the Mother and Child Hospital is expected to strengthen water availability at the facility, where reliable access to clean water is essential for patient care and other medical services.
Speaking during the commissioning, the Vice-Chancellor of SUMAS, Prof. James Ogbonna, expressed appreciation to the Enugu State Government and CSDA for the intervention, describing it as timely as students return to campus and the university continues to expand its academic programmes and infrastructure.
Prof. Ogbonna highlighted the rapid growth of the young institution, citing its expanding academic offerings, infrastructural development and increasing student population. He attributed the university’s progress to the efforts and timely interventions of Governor Peter Mbah.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that SUMAS was working towards admitting thousands of additional students by October. He listed some of the institution’s programmes as Pharmacology, Nanotechnology, Dentistry, Prosthetics and Nanomedicine.
He also highlighted the university’s achievements, including the completion of its library building and an administrative block, as well as efforts to attract major development projects in solar power, artificial intelligence and faculty infrastructure. He added that the university’s first convocation ceremony was scheduled for December.
Prof. Ogbonna stressed that reliable water supply was critical to the smooth running of the institution, particularly with the growing student population and the expansion of its academic and medical services. He welcomed the CSDA intervention as a practical response to the needs of the university community.
In his remarks, the President of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), SUMAS, Rt. Comr. Cletus Ikeuwa, commended Governor Mbah for addressing the students’ water needs through CSDA.
Ikeuwa expressed joy and gratitude to the state government, emphasising the relief the project had brought to the institution, particularly students living in the male hostel.
Similarly, management, medical personnel and patients at SUMASTH and the Mother and Child Hospital praised Governor Mbah for the intervention, describing access to water as essential to their daily operations and healthcare delivery.
They also commended the General Manager of CSDA, Hon. Monday Diamond Ani, whom they described as an outstanding leader who was proactive and responsive in the discharge of his duties.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Ani, who was accompanied by the member representing Igbo-Eze Constituency II in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Clifford Obe, and other CSDA staff, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to tackling critical basic-service challenges through interventions that directly improve beneficiaries’ welfare.
He emphasised the importance of ensuring that projects address identified needs and are implemented in line with established CSDA procedures and guidelines.
Hon. Ani also assured the beneficiaries of Governor Mbah’s continued support for CSDA’s efforts to address critical needs through similar interventions.
The commissioning underscores the Enugu State Government’s commitment, through CSDA and the NG-CARES programme, to improving access to essential services and supporting institutions that play vital roles in education and healthcare delivery.
It also reinforces the agency’s mandate to promote community-driven development and ensure that critical infrastructure reaches the people and institutions that need it most.
