…Mbah: Why we allocated 50% of Enugu budgets to health and education in 3 years

The Medical and Health Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) has presented an Award of Distinguished Leadership and Outstanding Contributions to Healthcare Delivery to Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, describing him as a leader who has made “a real and measurable difference in the lives of health workers and the citizens of Enugu State.”

The award was presented to the Governor by the National President of MHWUN on behalf of the Enugu State Council of MHWUN and union representatives at Government House, Enugu, on Wednesday evening.

The Union predicated the award on what it described as massive infrastructural transformation in the health sector, including the construction of 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 260 political wards of the state, the nearly completed 300-bed ultramodern Enugu International Hospital, and the revamping of secondary healthcare facilities.

They also hailed the governor for extensive reforms in the health sector and the turnaround in the welfare of health workers in the state.

“In the area of health workers’ welfare, which is of direct and critical interest to our union, Your Excellency approved the full, 100 per cent, implementation of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS) for medical and health workers, a long overdue step that has brought relief and dignity to our workers.

“Your government also approved a consequential adjustment for Enugu State workers, a gesture that has given our members the encouragement to be more productive and dedicated to their work.

“You recruited 2,500 health workers to address identified personnel deficits and have sustained training and capacity building programmes to sharpen the competences of existing staff.

“Equally noteworthy is the prompt and consistent payment of salaries, an act that may seem routine in an ideal world, but which, in the Nigerian reality, represents exceptional governance and compassion,” the Union stated.

The workers commended Governor Mbah for strengthening immunisation programmes, expanding antenatal and family planning services for women, and introducing free daily balanced meals for 300,000 schoolchildren in the Smart Green Schools.

They noted that Mbah’s “uncommon transformation” in the health and education sectors has attracted the partnership of the World Health Organisation (WHO), both of whom have publicly commended his commitment to health sector reform and investments.

“These are not merely domestic accolades; they are global endorsements of your leadership,” the Union added.

The State Chairman of the Enugu State chapter of MHWUN, Dr. Nnenna Oraedu, pledged the health workers’ continued partnership and cooperation with the Mbah administration in pursuit of a healthier, more prosperous Enugu State.

Speaking, Governor Mbah said his administration was well aware of the central place of a healthy population and workforce in his drive to grow Enugu State’s economy from $4.4 billion to $30 billion.

Consequently, he said the administration had budgeted/spent over 50 per cent of the state’s total budget in three budgetary cycles on education and health.

“We looked at our maternal mortality, infant mortality and under-five mortality rates, we knew immediately that we needed to address the preventive medical subsector aggressively, which was why we constructed 260 Type 2 Primary Healthcare Centres across the 260 wards.

“Just this morning, we approved a sum of about N4 billion to equip an additional 100 primary healthcare centres. We are going to add an additional 100 to what is currently operational, taking the number to about 200 fully operational primary healthcare centres. We hope that before the end of May, the 260 Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres will be fully operational,” he stated.

He said that his administration was spending heavily on transforming the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Park Lane, the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, the Colleges of Nursing, and the construction of the 300-bed Enugu International Hospital, because health is wealth.

“We are now attending to 54 general and cottage hospitals. We are upgrading some of the cottage hospitals to general hospitals,” he stated.

Mbah accepted the award with gratitude, dedicating it to his team, saying, “we are nothing without our team.”

“I want to, on behalf of my team, also assure you that this award will not make us rest on our laurels; it will rather spur us to work harder.”

Also, reacting to some of the major challenges listed by MHWUN Enugu State, Mbah donated an operational bus to the Union.

Award-winning Nigerian forex trader, Damilare Ogundare, has been hospitalized in Canada after a sudden medical emergency.

The trader, widely regarded as one of the highest-earning figures in Africa’s forex space, had reportedly left Nigeria just days earlier in good health before the unexpected incident occurred.

Sharing an update via his Instagram page on April 16, 2026, 25-year-old Habby Forex disclosed that he was feeling fine and active upon arriving in Canada when he suddenly developed complications that led to his admission into the emergency unit.

According to him, the situation escalated quickly, requiring urgent surgical intervention to save his life.

He revealed that he was taken into the surgical ward shortly after arriving at the hospital, where doctors carried out the necessary procedure.

Despite the scare, the forex trader expressed gratitude to God for his survival and also appreciated the Canadian healthcare team for their swift response and professionalism in handling the emergency.

HabbyForex informed his fans that he will be trading in Canada for a while now till he fully recovers.

He wrote; “I was fine and active as usual… suddenly in the ER needing emergency surgery to save my life ,Still unbelievable. I survived this , Thank you GOD & Thank you to the Canadian healthcare team 🇨🇦. Everything in life is a risk , trading from here for now stay active on telegram 📈🔐. Thanks to everyone checking up on me , ❤️❤️🙏.”

See the post below;

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A post shared by Damilare Ogundare (@habbyforex_)

His post has since drawn reactions from fans and celebrities, many of whom have taken to social media to wish him a speedy recovery.

Reacting, Don Jazzy wrote, “Ahh get well soon bro.”

goldtradernoelreys commented, “Thank you God, get well soon Ogo ❤️💪 You’re healed 🙏🏽.”

smart_money_rich shared, “God is GOOD. Your recovery is swift 💜💜.”

pickpipsfx shared, “The Lord Almighty is the strength of your life, @habbyfx_academy … Quick recovery Boss 💪💪.”

ganajoshua_danlami uttered, “By his stripes you are healed Brody 🙏🏽❤️ Thank God for life 🙏🏽.”

blaqmayor_ shared, “Quickest recovery biggest na star you be dem Dey shine forever 🙏🏽🙏🏽 God is the greatest.”

thetdo reacted, “God of mercy. Get well soon Fx prof.”

In similar news, A debate has erupted online after award-winning Nigerian forex trader, Habby Forex boasted about having more expensive wristwatches in Nigeria.

Don Jazzy challenged the claim and urged the trader to rank Afrobeats superstars Burna Boy and Davido ahead of him in terms of expensive wrist watches.

Don Jazzy’s reaction has since sparked widespread reactions, with many netizens echoing his stance and questioning the trader’s comparison, particularly highlighting Burna Boy’s global success and financial strength.

Gunmen have abducted passengers, including candidates of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination being conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board examination, along the Makurdi-Otukpo road in Benue State.

The victims were said to be travelling in a Benue Links bus from Makurdi to Otukpo when the vehicle was attacked on Wednesday night.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said the bus, which was conveying about 18 passengers, was intercepted near Otukpo around 8 pm by suspected bandits who took most of the occupants into the bush.

According to the source, the passengers were mainly young persons heading to Otukpo to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for Thursday.

“Two people, the driver and one passenger, managed to escape. Incidentally, the passengers were mainly young men and women who travelled to sit for the JAMB examination scheduled for today (Thursday),” he said.

However, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Ifeanyi Emenari, said 14 passengers were abducted, adding that one victim escaped.

Emenari, who spoke on Thursday, said he was in Otukpo coordinating the rescue operation.

“I am in Otukpo now with all my team and DPOs who are here in the bush and am heading the operation.

“What happened was that one Benue Links bus carrying passengers coming to Otukpo was stopped and attacked by hoodlums and 14 passengers were kidnapped but one was able to escape,” he said.

He added that the command had commenced an investigation into the incident, particularly the circumstances surrounding the journey.

According to him, the Benue Links management has a policy against night travel, but the driver allegedly picked up passengers after official hours.

“But as we are investigating, we are on the ground to make sure that the victims are rescued,” the CP said.

The Chairman of Otukpo Local Government Area, Maxwell Ogiri, also confirmed the incident, saying security operatives had been deployed to the area.

Ogiri said, “It is true, I’m just coming out from a security meeting, and security operatives have been moved into the forest to help rescue the kidnapped victims.

“The victims are mainly young boys and girls coming to Otukpo to write JAMB.”

Passengers travelling along the Makurdi-Otukpo road have faced repeated attacks by gunmen in recent months.