Here’s how Dr Bassey emerged as AMLSN’s new president + his plans for the association and med lab profession
The election of Dr Bassey Enya Bassey was the climax of this year’s conference of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria held in Kaduna. According to his LinkedIn page, he is a national surveillance officer at the World Health Organization and holds a PhD degree in public health microbiology from the University of Benin.
Here’s how the election went down.
NATIONAL PRESIDENT
Total votes cast: 1273
Valid votes: 1263
Invalid votes: 10
Dr. Bassey Enya Bassey: 824 (Winner)
Dr. Surajudeen Junaid: 297
Mr. Ucheodioyemma: 140
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT 1
Total votes cast: 1265
Valid votes: 1246
Invalid votes: 19
Dr. Chris Elemuwa: 713 (Winner)
Prince Ashi Robert: 533
NATIONAL VICE PRESIDENT 2
Total votes cast: 1267
Valid votes: 1250
Invalid votes: 17
Mr. Olukayode Salako: 151
Mr. Sarki: 291
Dr. Felix Emelike: 808 (Winner)
NATIONAL WELFARE OFFICER
Total vote cast: 1261
Valid votes: 1247
Invalid votes: 14
Com. Abubakar Abdullahi – 324
Com. Lawal Toaefeek Babsalaam – 293
Com. Magret Adah Oche – 630 (Winner)
NATIONAL PUBLICITY SECRETARY
Total vote cast: 1274
Valid votes: 1248
Invalid votes: 26
Alh. Bukar Musa- 456
Dr Casmir Ifeanyi – 792(WINNER)
NATIONAL FINANCIAL SECRETARY
Total vote cast: 1259
Valid votes: 1233
Invalid votes: 26
Com. Yeldu Mukhtar Mainasara – unopposed (Winner)
NATIONAL TREASURER
Total vote cast: 1240
Valid votes: 1022
Invalid votes: 38
Dr Gloria Archibong (unopposed) (Winner)
NATIONAL AUDITOR
Total vote cast: 1262
Valid votes: 1245
Invalid votes: 17
Mummy Comfort Vandu- 679 (Winner)
Com. Oni Nelson- 298
Com. Collins Adjekuko- 268
NATIONAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Total vote cast: 1280
Valid votes: 1264
Invalid votes: 16
Com. Jimi Adejare -226
Com. Prince Adeyinka Adedire – 451 (Winner)
Com. Ibrahim Fewudu – 327
Com. Osarobo Osewi – 260
NATIONAL SECRETARY
Total votes cast: 1271
Valid votes: 1254
Invalid votes: 17
Com. Adeyeye Tam – 323
Dr James Damen -617 (Winner)
Com. Obi Ayobamchukwu- 56
Com. Soji Billyrose- 258
Agenda revealed
In his acceptance speech, Dr Bassey said there is no victor; no vanquish because the members are all one and a family. According to him, the association yearns greatly for leadership and he promised to ‘hit the ground running’.
“We will pursue vigorously the entrenchment of discipline working closely with the MLSCN to reactivate the disciplinary committees and ensure that our elders and senior colleagues are respected in the profession as is the case in other professions. We reckon that where there is no discipline, there will be chaos and anarchy,” the new president said.
He observed that the profession has witnessed an era that almost resulted in division along ethnic fault lines.
“We will in the next couple of days reach out, hold several consultations ahead of hosting a National Peace and Unity Summit to unite us all and foster a family bond,” he said.
He also promised to pursue vigorously the entrenchment of discipline working closely with the MLSCN to reactivate the disciplinary committees and ensure that elders of the profession and senior colleagues are respected in the profession as is the case in other professions.
“We reckon that where there is no discipline, there will be chaos and anarchy,” he said.
Following the association’s numerous legal victories, the new president said his administration will constitute a team under the guidance of the associations’ legal Adviser to review all the cases in a bid to commence full execution of the Court judgments.
“Cases instituted at the Chapters and Branches shall also be reviewed to determine the once that need to be consolidated for accelerated hearing,” he said.
He added that his administration will see to the existence of a full fledge Department of Laboratory Services at the Federal Ministry of Health.
“During the adoption of the National Medical Laboratory Strategic Plan in 2013, there was an understanding for a phased implementation of the process for establishing a Department of Laboratory Services, we will reach out to Professor Tomori, the then Chairman of that forum and begin discussions along that line,” Bassey said.
He urged members of the association to recognize the need for a cohesive platform, indispensable to an effective and efficient implementation of AMLSN’s policies and programmes.
“We must cast aside bitter recriminations and destructive predilections,” the president added.
Medical laboratory science council reacts
Reacting to the news of the election, the management of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) congratulated the newly elected President and all members of newly elected National Executive Officers (NEOs) of our great Association.
“We commend the conduct of all Medical Laboratory Scientists who participated in the just concluded conference, before, during and after the election. The conduct of those who did not make it at the polls was exemplary as they demonstrated spirits of sportsmanship and were gallant in defeat. We call on the new president, Dr. Bassey and his team to be magnanimous in victory,” the council stated.
According to the statement, the council urged all Medical Laboratory Scientists to cooperate with the administration of Dr. Bassey who is poised to lead the Association to enviable and astounding heights in the next three years.
“We should eschew politics of bitterness and pull all our resources together to project our profession as there are still lots of grounds to be covered,” the council stated.