Lagos Assembly Moves to Establish University of Medicine and Health Sciences
The Lagos State House of Assembly has commenced legislative steps to establish a University of Medicine and Health Sciences, a move aimed at addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals and boosting the state’s medical education capacity.
The proposed institution, which will evolve from the existing Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), is expected to operate as a specialized university dedicated to training doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health workers.
The bill to give the new university legal backing has already been presented before lawmakers, signaling a major shift in the state’s higher education and healthcare development strategy.
According to state officials, the university will run from a new campus located at Ketu-Ejirin in Epe, which will host administrative offices and basic science faculties. Clinical training, however, will be anchored at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and other designated medical facilities across the state’s IBILE divisions, thereby ensuring practical exposure for students.
The initiative is also part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s broader plan to tackle the growing challenge of brain drain in the health sector. With many Nigerian medical professionals seeking opportunities abroad, the government says the establishment of the university will not only expand access to quality medical education but also ensure Lagos can produce a steady pipeline of healthcare workers for its hospitals and health facilities.
Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, explained that the institution is designed to train up to 2,500 students annually, including at least 1,000 doctors, thereby significantly increasing the state’s medical workforce in line with international standards.
He also noted that the plan ties into ongoing healthcare reforms, which include upgrading facilities, digitizing health records through the Lagos Smart Health Information Platform, and expanding access to disease prevention and treatment services.
Education stakeholders and health professionals have welcomed the development, describing it as timely and necessary for Nigeria’s most populous state.
They argue that the proposed University of Medicine and Health Sciences could serve as a model for other states, bridging critical gaps in medical education and positioning Lagos as a leader in healthcare innovation.
When fully operational, the university is expected to play a central role in transforming medical training and healthcare delivery in Lagos, offering a sustainable solution to the state’s long-standing manpower deficit in the health sector.
