100 days in office… How has Okolugbo fared as Delsuth CMD

March 14, 2023, the Chief Medical Director, Delta State University Teaching Hospital, Oghara, Prof. Nekwu Emmanuel Okolugbo clocked what has, of recent, been known as “first 100 days in office.” The Chief Medical Director was appointed on December 1, 2022 by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa led Delta State government with a charge to restore the institution lost glory. Prof. Nekwu Emmanuel Okolugbo addressing journalists on his 100 days in office

Okolugbo assumed office on December 5, 2023, on that same date he had town hall meeting with all management, staff of the State owned teaching hospital, an indication that he came prepared the job.

The ‘magic 100 days’ is an occasion is used to showcase landmark achievements within the short period. This magical 100 days, in some states, ministries and agencies, seems to be given more attention than thereafter. For, if the strength, vigor and commitment of the first 100 days are sustained, many institution would be transformed. Unfortunately, quite often, the tempo goes down and the drive is relaxed.

It needs to be pointed out, that there seems to be a misunderstanding of what the first 100 days is meant to serve. Whereas, agenda setting by way of declarations and enactment of laws meant to drive the administration is the purpose of the first 100 days, focus appears to have shifted to what people could see as achievement, as against the unseen strategic plans that should be made to drive governance, which, originally, is the purpose of the first 100 days.

The idea of first 100 days came from the United States of America under President Franklin Roosevelt, the 32nd President of the United States, who was inaugurated on March 4, 1933. Roosevelt’s preoccupation wasn’t necessarily physical infrastructural development but on strategic ideas that could drive his government and change the ugly state of affairs caused by the Great Depression.

Consequently, over the period of his first 100 days, Roosevelt presented a series of initiatives to congress designed to counter the impacts of the Great Depression. He signaled his intention to move with unprecedented speed to tackle the problems confronting the nation in his inaugural speech. He declared: “I am prepared to recommend the measures that a stricken nation in the midst of a stricken world may require.”

Thus, the specific priorities at the outset of his presidency were getting Americans back to work, protecting their savings and creating prosperity, providing relief for the sick and elderly, getting industry and agriculture back on their feet. In order to achieve these lofty goals, Roosevelt enacted 13 major laws in the first 100 days of his presidential term. Ever since then, the first 100 days has assumed a symbolic significance and the period is considered a benchmark to measure the early success of a successful administration.

Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States warned that he should not be judged by his first 100 days. He said, “The first 100 days is going to be important, but it’s probably going to be the first thousand days that makes the difference.

Obama’s undertakings during his first 100 days included signing the Lilly Ledbetter Fair pay Act of 2009; signing into law the expanded State Children’s Health Insurance Programme (S-CHIP); winning approval of a congressional budget resolution that put Congress on record as dedicated to dealing with major health issues; breaking from the Bush administration on a number of policy fronts, except for Iraq, which he followed through on Bush’s Iraq withdrawal of U.S. troops, etc. At the end of the first 100 days, 65 per cent of Americans approved of how Obama was doing and 29 per cent disapproved.

Donald Trump, the 45th President of the United States was inaugurated on January 20, 2017 the day his first 100 days began. One of his major achievement made as part of his “100-day pledge” was the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Trump was unable to fulfill his major pledges in his first 100 days and had an approval rating of between 40 and 42 per cent, the “lowest for any first term president at this point in his tenure. Trump signed 24 executive orders in his first 100 days, said to be the most executive orders of any President since World War II.

The foregoing shows that the concept of first 100 days entails setting the direction of governance. It is meant to chart the way the administration is headed and not an end in itself. People should be able to know the direction an administration is heading to, based on the declarations, laws, and relationship ratio of any administration.

If a government builds a bridge within the first 100 days and relaxes thereafter, it is meaningless. Instead, a single pronouncement made, a critical act signed into law, executive orders signed to drive governance are more meaningful than building a road or two and clinging unto them as major accomplishments. These are normal daily issues of governance.

Another thing I would like to point out is that though the idea of the first 100 days is presidential from origin, state governors, government agencies have adopted it and appear to own it more than the president. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that so long as the right thing is done. Whatever would push the leadership into positive action is always attained.

Okolugbo is Result-driven

In Delta state, the Chief Medical Director of the state-owned University Teaching Hospital, Prof. Emmanuel Nekwu Okolugbo clocked his first 100 days in office and marked it with a town hall meeting, second of its series, held at the institution main auditorium by flaunting a number of achievements he has made since assuming office December 5, 2023.

During the town hall meeting, Prof. Okolugbo reminded management, staff of the institution of his determinations to restore Delsuth in his campaign slogan “Restoration 22” and no doubt what he flaunted as his achievements beats my imaginations.

According to Okolugbo “In the course of my campaign, I was bold enough to make promises before God and Man that I would serve with sincerity and openness. That my integrity shall be brought to bear on my service to all and sundry. I am pleased to invite you to be part of my commitment towards making Delsuth of our dreams come through, we (management) shall be presenting our scorecard and also launching some of our projects. Indeed working with you people has been fulfilling. Going forward my administration will continue to honour my pledges.”

His achievements:

For me, the greatest achievement of Prof. Okolugbo within his first 100 days is his uncommon resolve and determination to restore back the institution lost glory. Some of the achievements flaunted during the town hall meeting to include; revival of the dialysis center that has been moribund in the past two years, the commissioning of endoscopy machine in the urology department that has been down for over two years and the I-care tonometer to the department of ophthalmology, restoration of x-ray services procurement of new machines, breathing life into the hospital morgue.

To re-jing staff attitudes to work, within that 100 days, Okolugbo has approved free treatments to the hospital staff who are under the Delta Contributory Health Insurance Scheme, free usage of the hospital bus by staff all geared towards motivation of staff to work.

Being someone who understand that for an institution like Delsuth to function effectively, interventionist agencies has major roles, Prof. Okolugbo has since set up necessary machineries to woo international organizations, NGOs, multi-national agencies to come and partner with the teaching hospital. And to admiration of all during the town hall meeting; Okolugbo revealed that the hospital recently secured partnership with NNPC to treating its staff.

Indeed, Okolugbo is out to bring the long awaited development to Delsuth, as indications has shown that before his appointment Delsuth was already on life-support begging for survival, despite the huge resources.

According to an anonymous staff of the teaching hospital stated that Okolugbo headship of the state-owned teaching was the first of its kind adjudged from its management-staff ratio relationship.

Prof. Okolugbo no doubt has sot-spot for his staff, patients through tendering listening ears, the accolades in such exhorted office has never made him to behave as bigots like others, he had never deviated from the mandate of the hospital, as resounded by Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa.

This was because of his humble family background and upbringing, his vast knowledge and exposure had made him and assisted him in addressing critical issues as it relates to the hospital and also to manage human resources.

The first one hundred days is normally for examination of every public office holders of their ability to deliver the mandate of that particular office and intentions geared towards fulfilling promises; and I think, with his numerous achievement in the last 100 days, Prof. Nekwu Emmanuel Okolugbo amid what he have in stock would no doubt deliver the mandate given to him. It seems Okolugbo has been licensed on the dictates of delivering.

Yes, delivering the mandate is possible

Kparobo Ehvwubare Anipr is a journalist, public affairs analyst wrote from Oghara-Delta State. Could be reached on +2347067546856, marksbare@gmail.com