By our Reporter
Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has disclosed that the state government is considering establishing a specialised university dedicated to medical sciences to address the shortage of healthcare professionals.
The governor made this known on Tuesday while receiving the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, and members of the institute’s leadership at Lagos House, Marina.
Sanwo-Olu explained that the proposed institution would complement existing tertiary institutions in the state and help address the growing demand for qualified medical personnel.
He noted that his administration had established two additional state-owned universities alongside the Lagos State University (LASU), which was established about four decades ago.
According to him, the proposed medical sciences university would represent another strategic investment in education and human capital development.
The governor also expressed concern over the increasing pressure on the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), which continues to receive patients from different parts of the country because of its medical capacity and quality of services.
“LASUTH today is the foremost tertiary health facility that we have in the country. In terms of the number of personnel, patients they see and qualified professionals and practitioners, LASUTH is number one today.
“People come from different parts of the country as early as 5am just to receive tertiary healthcare. There is a lot of pressure, but we will continue to do our best,” he said.
On the proposed Orange Economy Summit, Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his administration’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with NIPSS, particularly in policy development, strategic engagement and capacity building.
He said Lagos remained committed to building a stronger relationship with the institute to promote development-oriented policies and strategic partnerships.
Earlier, the NIPSS Director-General, Prof. Omotayo, said the institute was seeking the Lagos State Government’s partnership for the proposed Orange Economy Summit, which he described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
He explained that the summit would focus on promoting the cultural and creative economy while positioning Lagos as a key player in the Orange Economy agenda.
Omotayo also expressed the institute’s interest in establishing a stronger and more permanent collaborative relationship with the state government.
He further invited Governor Sanwo-Olu to deliver a lecture at the institute’s campus, noting that the engagement would provide participants with an opportunity to learn from the governor’s experience in governance.
