By Woke Joshua
Thelish Eye Centre has commended the Ministry of Interior for reforms to the Expatriate Quota system, saying the policy has contributed significantly to the development of Nigerian professionals in the specialised eye-care sector.
The organisation’s delegation, led by Mrs Amaka Etuk, made the commendation during a courtesy visit to the Ministry in Abuja, where it also invited the Minister and Permanent Secretary to its 30th anniversary celebration.
Receiving the delegation, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to using the Expatriate Quota system to promote knowledge transfer, build local capacity and improve service delivery.
According to a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations, Mrs Mary Ali, on Friday, Ajani congratulated Thelish Eye Centre on its 30th anniversary and commended its contribution to specialised eye care in Nigeria.
She said the Ministry’s Expatriate Quota policy was designed not only to regulate the engagement of foreign professionals but also to ensure that Nigerian expertise was developed through knowledge transfer and understudy arrangements.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted ongoing digital reforms in the Ministry’s Citizenship and Business Department, saying businesses could now process Expatriate Quota and related applications through online platforms.
According to her, the reforms are aimed at reducing reliance on intermediaries, improving transparency and making government services more efficient and accessible.
Ajani encouraged businesses to designate competent in-house officers to interface directly with the Ministry’s digital platforms instead of relying unnecessarily on agents for routine applications.
She added that the Ministry would continue to engage stakeholders and use their feedback to improve its reform initiatives and service delivery.
Speaking on behalf of Thelish Eye Centre, Mrs Amaka Etuk commended the Ministry’s administration of the Expatriate Quota and understudy policy, saying it had helped the organisation develop a strong team of Nigerian eye-care specialists.
Etuk disclosed that Thelish, which at one point engaged more than 80 expatriate professionals, had successfully trained Nigerian specialists who could now perform procedures previously handled by expatriates.
She said the development had enabled the hospital to expand its operations, including the establishment of a new centre in Abuja.
“Today, we are smiling. THELISH is happy because all the expatriates are gone. Nigerians have become the experts by virtue of the Ministry of Interior’s policy,” Etuk said.
She also praised the Ministry’s digital reforms, particularly the online processing of Expatriate Quota applications.
Etuk said the hospital recently completed its quota renewal entirely online without using intermediaries, visiting the Ministry physically or making unofficial payments.
The delegation invited the Minister and Permanent Secretary to Thelish Eye Centre’s 30th anniversary celebration, describing the event as an opportunity to mark three decades of service and contributions to Nigeria’s eye-care sector.
Responding, Ajani thanked the delegation for the commendation and invitation and confirmed that the Ministry would be represented at the anniversary event.
She reiterated the Ministry’s commitment to transparent, efficient and accessible service delivery, stressing that Expatriate Quota administration must continue to contribute to local capacity development and technology transfer.