Governor says proposed university will address shortage of healthcare professionals as LASUTH struggles with growing patient numbers from across Nigeria
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that his administration is considering the establishment of a specialised university dedicated to medical sciences as part of efforts to address the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals and strengthen the state’s healthcare delivery system.
The proposed institution, which would become the state’s fourth government-owned university, is expected to focus on producing more medical personnel and other healthcare professionals to meet the growing demand for quality healthcare services in Lagos and across the country.
Sanwo-Olu made the disclosure on Tuesday during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Professor Ayo Omotayo, and members of the institute’s leadership to Lagos House, Marina.
The Governor explained that the proposed university would complement existing tertiary institutions in the state and represent a long-term investment in medical education and human capital development.
He recalled that his administration had established two additional state-owned universities, bringing the number of public universities in Lagos to three, including the Lagos State University (LASU), which was established about four decades ago.
According to him, the increasing demand for healthcare services, coupled with the shortage of qualified medical professionals, has made it necessary for the state to explore additional avenues for training and developing healthcare personnel.
Sanwo-Olu also expressed concern over the growing 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, professional workforce and quality of services.
He described LASUTH as the country’s foremost tertiary healthcare facility, noting that its reputation and growing patient numbers have placed considerable demands on its personnel and available resources.
“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,” the Governor said.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding access to quality medical services and strengthening the capacity of the state’s healthcare institutions.
Beyond healthcare and education, the Governor also pledged stronger collaboration between Lagos State and NIPSS, particularly in policy development, strategic engagement, leadership development and capacity building.
He said the state government was interested in building a more robust and enduring relationship with the institute, given its strategic role in national policy formulation and leadership development.
The proposed partnership is also expected to support preparations for the Orange Economy Summit, an initiative aimed at promoting Nigeria’s cultural and creative industries and unlocking their economic potential.
Earlier, the NIPSS Director-General, Professor Omotayo, sought the Lagos State Government’s partnership for the proposed Orange Economy Summit, describing it as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
He said the summit would provide an important platform for advancing discussions around the creative and cultural economy, while positioning Lagos as a major player in the development of Nigeria’s Orange Economy.
The Orange Economy broadly covers economic activities driven by creativity, culture, intellectual property and innovation, including entertainment, film, music, fashion, tourism, design and the wider creative industries.
Omotayo said Lagos, given its position as Nigeria’s commercial and creative hub, had an important role to play in advancing the initiative and attracting greater attention and investment to the sector.
He further expressed NIPSS’s desire to establish a stronger and more permanent working relationship with the Lagos State Government.
As part of the engagement, the NIPSS chief invited Sanwo-Olu to deliver a lecture at the institute’s campus, noting that participants would benefit from the Governor’s experience in public administration, governance and policy implementation.
The visit underscored the shared interest of both institutions in strengthening policy collaboration, promoting strategic leadership and exploring new opportunities for economic development through education, healthcare and the creative economy.