Thelish Eye Centre has commended the Ministry of Interior for reforms in the administration of the Expatriate Quota system, saying the policy has helped the hospital develop Nigerian specialists capable of handling procedures previously performed by expatriate professionals.
Commendation During Courtesy Visit
The Chief Medical Director of the Centre, Dr. Amaka Etuk, stated this when a delegation from Thelish Eye Centre paid a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr Magdalene Ajani, in Abuja.
Etuk said the hospital, which at one point engaged more than 80 expatriates, had successfully transferred expertise to Nigerian professionals through the Ministry’s expatriate quota and understudy policy.
Nigerians Now the Experts
“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,” she said.
She added that the development had enabled the hospital to expand its operations, including the establishment of a new centre in Abuja. Etuk also praised the Ministry’s digital reforms, particularly the online processing of Expatriate Quota applications, saying a recent quota renewal by the hospital was completed online without intermediaries, physical visits to the Ministry or unofficial payments.
Government's Commitment to Digital Transformation
Responding, Ajani reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to using the Expatriate Quota system to promote knowledge transfer, build local capacity and improve service delivery. She said the Ministry’s Citizenship and Business Department was undergoing digital transformation to make expatriate quota and business permit services more transparent, efficient and accessible.
According to her, businesses can now access several services online without relying on agents or visiting Ministry offices physically. The Permanent Secretary urged businesses to designate competent in-house officers to interface directly with the Ministry’s digital platforms rather than unnecessarily engaging intermediaries for routine processes.
Stakeholder Engagement and 30th Anniversary
Ajani further said the Ministry would continue to engage stakeholders and use their feedback to strengthen its reforms and improve service delivery. She congratulated Thelish Eye Centre on its 30th anniversary and commended its contribution to specialised eye care in Nigeria.
The Centre also invited the Minister of Interior and the Permanent Secretary to its 30th anniversary celebration, which it said would provide an opportunity to celebrate three decades of service and its contribution to the transformation of Nigeria’s eye-care sector.
Ajani thanked the delegation for the invitation and said the Ministry would be represented at the anniversary event. She reiterated that the Ministry remained committed to ensuring that the Expatriate Quota system contributes meaningfully to local capacity development and technology transfer while promoting transparent and efficient service delivery.
