By Jurugo Emmanuel Ogasto
Turkish government has donated laboratory equipment to medical students at Upper Nile University in Gudele, on Wednesday.
Turkish Embassy in South Sudan with support from Turkish Agency for International Cooperation (TIKA) and Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism handed over the donation.
Chairperson of Medical Students Association of Upper Nile University (UNU), Wilson Bech Majok, expressed gratitude for the equipment.
In 2023, the association submitted a proposal to the Turkish Embassy in Juba, requesting laboratory equipment.
Majok said their ideas were highly received by the Ambassador of Turkey in Juba in less than a year.
“We wrote a letter and took it to the embassy requesting what we wanted, then we received a call and it asked us to go to the embassy,’’ he stated.
The UNU medical student chairman appealed to the Embassy to continue supporting the University for Better Performance.
“I am glad, and I need you to continue supporting us,’’ he added.
Abdullah Sari, Tika Country’s Project Coordinator, asked the university authorities to continue building good relationships with the Turkish government for more donations.
“Tika and South Sudanese people should keep good relations for more things to come,’’ he said.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Chol Obonyi Giel applauded the Turkish Embassy for considering the university in their programs.
He also pointed out that limited lecture rooms, text books, and medical stores to keep vital equipment are among the challenges the university is facing.
“It is only squeezed one lecture in a week due to limited lecture rooms and few text books,’’ he said.
Prof. Mamour Chuol Turuk, the Vice Chancellor of Upper Nile University, urged the lecturers and the students to use the equipment professionally.
He applauded the government of Turkey for the great donation.
He said that despite the challenges the Turkish government encountered from some natural disasters, they did not decline the request of the medical students.
“Thank you very much. Despite the fact that your government received some problems, you keep on supporting us, and I hope the relationship will continue,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, Erdem Mutaf, the Ambassador of Turkey to South Sudan, said the Turkish Embassy and the government have prioritized their programs in education for South Sudanese.
He said the government of Turkey has plans to open an international school in South Sudan.
“With the help of the national government and Central Equatoria State, we shall be able to open a school here as programmed,” she said.
The Ambassador also noted that the South Sudan and Turkey embassies signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the High Education Department for scholarships.
He urged South Sudanese to always follow and try their luck on scholarships by applying.
Prof. Dr. Adil Atenesio, the Under Secretary of the Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology, said the government remains committed to the development of education sectors in the country.
“Our ministry is always committed to seeing our citizens study and help the country,” he said.
He appealed to parents to continue supporting their children at higher levels.
Upper Nile University students are currently studying in temporary premises set up by the government in Juba following intensified violence in Malakal.