Goodwill Medical Centre
Retired Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma, former Chief of Army Staff, has described Diezani Alison- Madueke, a former female minister of petroleum as an expert who excelled in corruption.
Danjuma said this on Tuesday in Umuchigbo, Iji Nike, Enugu state, while commissioning the Goodwill Medical Centre, GMC, built and equipped by his foundation, the TY Danjuma Foundation.
Because of what he described as Diezani’s matchless corruption appetite, he said he almost lost faith in seeing women as the most trusted people to prudently manage public funds.
Danjuma, himself now an oil and gas magnate said: “I used to say that if you want anything properly done and delivered on time without any excuses give the job to a woman, until we had a female minister of petroleum.
“That woman excelled in corruption. She set a record that is yet to be beaten by anybody.
“So, I was in the process of reviewing my statement when I met one lady, Prof. Uche Amazigo. Uche and I have come a very long way. My first encounter with Uche was around mid-October 2010 when she was accompanied by Mrs. Franca Ilamiji, another Igbo woman.
“Uche and I have been colleagues for many years. After working for the TY Danjuma Foundation, I thought I had seen the end of Uche. I was mistaken.
“In early March 2022, Prof Uche, accompanied by two other female professors, presented to me a request to provide financial support for building and equipping a low-cost efficient medical centre to provide excellent medical services by predominantly female medical doctors, nurses and midwives who chose to dedicate their time to humanity.
“I listened to her carefully and asked a few questions. I wanted to know if they have cash and the name of the organization. And how she thinks an all-female-staff medical centre will function. She was ready for my questions.
“The result of all these questions is what you see here today. This magnificent edifice can only be built by women at the price they accounted to me. Men will take your money and you won’t see any building or money.”
While saluting Prof Uche and her team for a job well done, Danjuma expressed hope that they would surpass the goals they set for themselves.
Danjuma said Prof Amazigo made him believe once again that women remain the most trusted people to prudently manage public funds.
In his remarks, Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State, who was represented by his deputy, Ifeanyi Ossai, thanked Danjuma for epitomizing leadership both in public service and private life.
