Wale Jagun
The Lagos State Government, in its plan of having an international standard college of medicine and excellent healthcare system for its citizens, has convened a stakeholders’ meeting on the establishment of a stand-alone medical university in Lagos state.
The meeting was organized by the Ministries of Tertiary Education, Health and Lagos State University College Of Medicine (LASUCOM).
Speaking at the forum held recently in Ikeja, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, said that the objective of the meeting was to ensure that 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 Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to improving the capacity building of medical doctors and allied professions in the state to global standards.
He said tha the present administration has invested enormous human capital and financial resources in the Lagos State College of Medicine (LASUCOM) to align with the best global standards, to strengthen the state healthcare system.
The Commissioner averred that despite the state government’s investment in the current Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) and giant strides recorded, the institution is still beset with various challenges due to the increase in population, students’ admission, healthcare demand, infrastructure expansion and emigration of health workers.
He urged the forum to fashion an approach, explore empirical solutions and practical knowledge and make pragmatic steps for a successful takeoff of the University of Medicine and Health Sciences that will meet the medical yearning of the state and Nigeria in general.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, said that the state is blessed with enough health and medical infrastructures and facilities to run a successful university of medicine.
In a similar vein, the Provost of Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Professor Abiodun Adewuya, assured of qualified personnel who are well motivated and enthusiastic to make the upcoming stand-alone University of Medicine, a 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-campuses University of Medical and Health Sciences which is billed to commence admission in the 2024/2025 session, considering the number of existing qualified medical staff and facilities abounding in all divisions of the state, for a successful take-off.
The stakeholders meeting was part of the intellectuals and professionals’ engagement carefully planned by the Ministries of Tertiary Education, Health and LASUCOM, as a strategy towards exploring empirical and practical knowledge for the successful take-off of the Multi-Campuses University of Medicine and Health Sciences that will meet the medical needs of the state, Nigeria, through the provision of healthcare, towards illuminating and dissecting the causes, effects and dimensions of medical issues that reflect the state and national medical needs.
