The Lagos State Government has confirmed that the process to establish a medical university is now in the final stage.
This implies that the current Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, may soon assume the status of a full-fledged university to be known as Lagos State University of Medical and Health Sciences.
The development will increase the number of state universities from one to four: Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED) and the upcoming -Se will create medical university.
In the last three years, the state had converted its polytechnic in Ikorodu and its colleges of education in Ijanikin and another in Epe into universities, increasing the number to three.
reformulation of the governor
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced on Tuesday during his address at the Lagos Physical Planning Summit in response to remarks raised by his predecessor, Babatunde Fashola, on the use of veto power in cabinet meetings to achieve the best for the state.
Fashola, as keynote speaker, had advocated continued reform in physical planning and the issuance of building permits in the state, urging his successor to avoid bureaucratic hurdles by using his veto power entrusted to him by the electorate. .
Mr Sanwo-Olu said: “My predecessor also reminded and assured me that there are some veto powers that I must use. Just yesterday there was a controversial cabinet memo in which, at the end of the day, they had to implement that veto.
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“We faced approval to establish a Lagos State University of Medical Sciences as a deliberate attempt to address the lack of qualified medical professionals, doctors, nurses and other health professionals, and this sparked heated debates at the cabinet meeting. but I had to use the veto power as suggested by my predecessor despite the discontent of the cabinet.”
LASU vs. LASUCOM
The governor's comment may not be unrelated to the recent crisis between the management of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, and that of LASUCOM.
The development led to the banning of the current vice-chancellor of the medical faculty, Abiodun Adewuya, by the vice-chancellor of the university, Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello.
However, Mr Adewuya, also a teacher, was later reportedly reinstated following the governor's intervention.
PREMIUM TIMES could not independently confirm what the issues were between the VC and the rector. However, it is speculated that the hostility between them arose from the state government's plan to convert the medical college into a full-fledged university of medical sciences.
The upgrade is reportedly being carried out by the state government without the support of the university management, something the university management would have found distasteful.
It is believed that the rector supports the measure against the interests of the university management.
medical university
In January, Sanwo-Olu announced plans to establish the University of Medical and Health Sciences before the end of 2024 as part of efforts to address brain drain in the health sector.
At a recent stakeholder meeting, the rector of LASUCOM assured that it will have qualified, well-motivated and enthusiastic staff to make the medical university “a credit to the state and Nigeria in terms of professionalism and standards.”
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In his presentations, the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, said the state is fortunate to have sufficient medical and health infrastructure and facilities to run a successful medical university.
Other stakeholders at the meeting assured the state government of their ministries' preparedness, support and cooperation for the multi-campus medical university that will begin admission in the 2025/2026 academic session.