The Lagos State Government has commenced the process to convert the Lagos State University College of Medicine into a full-fledged, stand-alone medical university.

Recall that Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, announced in early January that his government would establish a medical university to enhance the state’s medical infrastructure and counter the emigration of doctors and other medical personnel abroad.

Sanwo-Olu, who stated that the university would be established before the end of 2024, mentioned that the planned medical university would graduate about 1,500 doctors annually and encouraged other states to follow Lagos’s example.

“The Lagos State Government will be setting up, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and the National Universities Commission, a new university to be named Lagos State Medical University, before the end of this year (2024). This is a strategic intervention for us,” he had said.

Consequently, the Ministry of Tertiary Education disclosed on Tuesday that it had convened a meeting with key stakeholders regarding the establishment of the proposed medical university.

“In furtherance of efforts by Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to provide an internationally standardised college of medicine and an excellent healthcare system for the people of Lagos State, the government, through the Ministries of Tertiary Education, Health, and Lagos State University College of Medicine, has convened a meeting with key stakeholders on the establishment of a stand-alone medical university in Lagos State,” a statement from Mr. Mamud Hassan, Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Tertiary Education, said.

According to the statement, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, speaking at the forum in Ikeja, the state capital, said, “The objective of the meeting was to ensure Lagos has a medical university capable of bridging the existing gap in the training of medical personnel and improving the healthcare delivery system in the state.”

Sule reiterated Governor Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to enhancing the capacity building of medical doctors and allied professionals in the state to meet global standards.

He noted that the current administration has invested significant human capital and financial resources in the Lagos State College of Medicine to align with the best global standards and strengthen the state’s healthcare system.

The Commissioner acknowledged that despite the state government’s investment in LASUCOM and the progress made, the institution still faces challenges due to increasing population, student admissions, healthcare demand, infrastructure expansion, and the emigration of health workers.

He urged the forum “to devise an approach, explore empirical solutions, and make practical steps for a successful launch of the University of Medicine and Health Sciences that will address the medical needs of the state and Nigeria as a whole.”

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said the state is equipped with adequate health and medical infrastructure to support a successful university of medicine.

Similarly, the Provost of LASUCOM, Professor Abiodun Adewuya, assured that the institution has qualified and motivated personnel who are eager to make the new stand-alone University of Medicine a source of pride for the state and Nigeria in terms of professionalism and standards.

“Other stakeholders at the meeting assured the state government of their ministries’ readiness, support, and cooperation for the multi-campus University of Medical and Health Sciences, which is scheduled to commence admissions in the 2024/2025 session, given the number of qualified medical staff and facilities available throughout the state for a successful launch.

“The stakeholders’ meeting was part of the intellectual and professional engagement carefully planned by the Ministries of Tertiary Education, Health, and LASUCOM as a strategy to explore empirical and practical knowledge for the successful establishment of the multi-campus University of Medicine and Health Sciences, aimed at addressing the medical needs of the state and Nigeria by providing healthcare that addresses and analyses the causes, effects, and dimensions of medical issues affecting our state and national healthcare needs,” the statement read. (The PUNCH)

•L-R: Dr. Funmi Adeboje; LASUCOM Provost, Prof. Abiodun Adewuya; Lagos Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Commissioner for Tertiary Education; Hon. Tolani Sule, Prof. Olufemi Bamiro, Prof. Olaopa and Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tertiary Education, Mr. Adeniran Kasali at the Stakeholders Engagement on the Transmutation of LASUCOM to University of Medicine and Health Sciences

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