The Item Community, located in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, has conveyed its profound appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for his approval and subsequent signing into law of a bill establishing the Federal University of Medical & Health Sciences on their land. This significant development, which saw the President sign the bill into law within the week, was met with widespread commendation from the community.

In a formal letter of appreciation, the Item Development Association (IDA), representing the community, lauded President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and compassion in selecting their community as the site for this vital institution. The letter, jointly signed by Sir Onwuka Orji (President General of IDA), Bishop Dr. Sunday Ndukwo Onuoha (Chairman of IDA Board of Trustees), and High Chief Sir Akwari Ukpabi (IDA Grand Patron), emphasized the transformative impact of this decision. The community stated, "This singular act, coming at a time when Nigeria faces a pressing need for accessible and high-quality medical education, is nothing short of transformative. The President has, through this noble gesture, not only planted a seed of educational excellence in our soil but also offered our children and generations unborn a beacon of hope and opportunity."

The community affirmed that the "Federal University of Medical & Health Sciences, Item, will be a notable institution in the South-East geopolitical zone and the entire nation." They anticipate it will serve as a hub for academic excellence, research innovation, and healthcare delivery, thereby creating employment, stimulating the local economy, and placing the community on the national and global map of medical advancement. The presence of the university is expected to profoundly touch "every home, every heart and every hopeful eye in Item," fulfilling a long-held dream for the community.

The Item people also extended their gratitude to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for his "tireless efforts, legislative acumen and unwavering commitment to his constituency." His dedicated work led to the successful sponsorship and passage of the bill, earning him recognition as "a true son of the soil and a shining light of representation," with his name destined to be etched in the history of Item.

Furthermore, the community made a fervent plea to President Tinubu to ensure early appropriation for the university project and the swift commencement of construction work, with the aim of completing this noble project within his first tenure. They pledged their full cooperation for the actualization of the project, expressing readiness to assist authorities in identifying the exact site for the university within their community and offering any other necessary support. The Item people promised to remember President Tinubu’s gesture with reverence and pride, committing to guard this legacy, nurture it, and ensure it blossoms into the great and life-changing institution it is destined to be, while also pledging continued support for his efforts to build a better Nigeria.