BMU STRENGHTENS PARTNERSHIP TIES WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL AMNESTY PROGRAMME (PAP) AS COLONEL MILLAND DIXON DIKIO (RTD), INTERIM ADMINISTRATOR OF THE PROGRAMME VISITS THE INSTITUTION- FRIDAY 25TH JUNE, 2021.
Professor E.N. Etebu, Vice Chancellor of the University welcomed the interim administrator and his team on behalf of Emeritus Professor Nimi D. Briggs (OON), Pro Chancellor and Chairman of Council, the Governing Council, Senate, Management and staff of the University. He reiterated the importance of such a visit to the Establishment for a second time in less than a month as proof that the collaboration between both organizations was growing stronger by the day.
Professor Etebu took out time to appreciate the role played by one of the visiting team members, Rtd. Major Lancelot Anyanya whom he said also played a vital role in securing the enlistment of Bayelsa Medical University in Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
The Vice Chancellor recalled how the Bayelsa Medical University started from humble beginnings when the former Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson in his wisdom gave a breath a fresh air to the 500 bed hospital by establishing a Medical University to help close the lacuna in the health sector in the State with the aim of resuscitating the moribund hospital.
The erudite Professor of Pathology stressed the efforts of Senator Douye Diri, Executive Governor of Bayelsa State and the prosperity Government in sustaining BMU as well as ongoing efforts at ensuring the hospital (BMUTH) becomes functional in no distant time to render services to Bayelsans. He informed the august visitors from the Presidential Amnesty Programme that the accreditation process for programmes of BMU was ongoing and will take place in stages as the University is desirous to see its students graduate in record time. According to the VC, the current 200 level students of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences studying Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry will eventually move to the Faculty of Clinical Sciences and proceed to do their clinicals at the BMU Teaching Hospital (BMUTH).
In the words of the Vice Chancellor, BMU intends to add other related medical professional programmes such as Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Bio-Engineering and Optometry. He acknowledged that the PAP had done well so far in developing manpower for the Niger Delta region through training programmes abroad and called on the Interim Administrator to redirect the training of manpower to indigenous educational institutions such as BMU for cost effectiveness and to carter for more students. He described Col. Dikio (Rtd) as a man of his words for keeping to his promise to visit BMU once more.
In response, the Interim Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio expressed delight on the warm reception accorded him and his large team, stating that his visit was on an official capacity as interim administrator of the Programme to experience first hand what the institution was doing and strengthen the already existing relationship between both bodies.
He explained that the presidential amnesty office was established by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2009 to tackle the economic losses, the deteriorating security situation in the region, to restore oil production to pre-amnesty level, reduce the scale of insecurity in the region as well as develop critical human capacity building and closing the development gap of the region. He praised the Vice Chancellor for surrounding himself with young, vibrant and intelligent professionals who are saddled with the task of managing the university.
The interim administrator recounted how not quite long ago, some members of the BMU Governing Council such as Emeritus Professor Nimi Briggs, Ambassador Boladei Igali and Professor E.N. Etebu, paid him a visit in Abuja and had fruitful discussions on the need to train more professionals in the region in both medical and allied medical sciences and promised to optimize the ties between BMU and PAP. He noted, “we all want the same thing which is to make the Niger Delta the best place to live and do business in Nigeria.”
Speaking further, the interim administrator emphasized that it is key for institutions of learning in Nigeria to provide teaching in both character and learning adding that beneficiaries of PA scholarship programmes should consider such as a privilege and not a right. He seized the opportunity to state that the PAP has restructured the process of scholarships award in favour of disciplines that are very relevant to the development of the Niger Delta and considering the abysmal number of medical personnel, the PAP would continue to support and award more scholarships to students within the resources available.
He ended his remark by praising the Vice Chancellor, for thinking outside the box and reaching out to the Presidential Amnesty programme for the purpose of developing medical manpower in the region.
ABRIDGED PROFILE OF COLONEL MILLAND DIXON DIKIO (RTD)
Colonel Milland Dixon Dikio (Rtd) is from Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State. He attended Baptist High School, Port Harcourt (1971-1975). He was admitted into Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) 21st Regular Combatant Course and was appointed the Academy Cadets Adjutant in recognition of his leadership qualities.
He was posted to the elite Nigerian Army Armored Corps on commission as a Second Lieutenant effective Jan 03, 1977. He is a seasoned professional who held command, diplomatic, staff and teaching appointments. He was decorated with ECOMOG, OAU and UN Peacekeeping medals. His conflict resolution credentials were honed and tested during his numerous field engagements and policy advisory roles at both local and international levels. His flair for languages enables him to communicate effectively in whatever environment he is deployed.
He voluntarily retired in the rank of Colonel in July 2004 and was noted for his high standard of discipline, excellence and integrity. Some of the courses and workshops that positively impacted his career were: French Language Course, Center For Foreign Languages, University of Benin Cotonou, Benin Republic Jul 04-Sep 05,1980; Tank Company Commanders Course, International Military School, Simferopol USSR Dec 01,1989-Apr 26,1990 and the Senior Division Staff Course, Command and Staff College, Jaji-Kaduna Aug 1993–Jul 1994.
He was recalled as a Directing Staff Apr 1997 – Apr 1999 to teach at both the Junior and Senior Divisions and earned the coveted psc+ award. He attended African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS), National Defense University, Washington DC 1st Sub-Regional Senior Leadership Seminar on Preventing Conflict in West Africa, Accra Ghana Aug 20-24, 2001 and Exercise Combined Endeavor, US European Command (EUCOM), Ramstein Germany May 16-24, 2001.
He was a Resource Expert – Terrorism Curriculum Review Seminar, ACSS Washington DC, Dec 03-07, 2001 and Participant – The Role of Sub-Regional Organizations in the Prediction and Prevention of Conflict, French War College Paris France May 15-June 15, 2002. His appointments include: Instructor NDA, Staff officer Administration, Headquarters 21 Armoured Brigade, General Staff Officer Internal Security, Army Headquarters and Military Assistant to The Chief of Training, Operations and Plans, Defense Headquarters.
He commanded the Nigerian Contingent of Military and Police UN Observers in Angola. As Commanding Officer NIBATT 37 ECOMOG, Sierra Leone he was responsible for securing the major land approaches into Freetown, the Child Soldiers rehabilitation Camp in Orogu and Disarmament Camp in Newton. He successfully carried out the special mission to dislodge Sam Bockerie, a notorious Revolutionary United Front Rebel considered inimical to the success of the Sierra Leone peace process without casualties.
In order to stop cross border rebel activities that had the potential to drag Guinea and Liberia into war, he led an Advance team in Nov 2000 that conducted an extensive reconnaissance mission throughout the length of the Guinea-Liberia borders in his capacity as the Military Adviser/Principal Programme Officer Peacekeeping at ECOWAS Executive Commission.
He subsequently presented the report at the Meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Mediation and Security Council and The Summit of Heads of State and Government in Bamako Mali in Dec 2000 which was highly commended. Dixon developed the Concepts and Structures of ECOWAS Standby Forces, the military component of ECOWAS Mechanism on Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security which was adopted by the African Union as the model for other Sub-Regional Organizations in Africa.
He was the Point Officer – Design Team, ECOWAS Early Warning System in collaboration with EUCOM. Dixon also played a prominent role in negotiations with insurgents in Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia and Sierra Leone which set the stage for the signing of peace accords in those countries. He was a member of the first ECOWAS Mediation and Security Council Verification of Government of Liberia compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1343(2001) Apr 19-24,2001.
He was an accredited member of ECOWAS team in the International Observers Group that monitored the Mar 09-11, 2003 Zimbabwe Presidential Election. ACSS also appointed Dixon as a Senior Rapporteur for the West African Ministerial Symposium it conducted in Dakar Senegal July 22-23, 2003 and was lead presenter at the AU-ECOWAS-G8 Countries Clearing House Meeting on Peacekeeping in Africa at the State Department Washington DC October 07-08, 2004.
As CEO Consul Consultants Limited, he was at various times the Security Consultant to the Federal Inland Revenue Service and ECOWAS Executive Commission. The Center for Development and Democracy contracted him to produce the documents and organize workshops aimed at operationalizing ECOWAS Mechanism on Peace and Security. He is currently, the interim administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.He is happily married with children.