The Lagos State House of Assembly is considering a bill to establish the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in the state.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa confirmed the development on Thursday before the bill scaled second reading during plenary.
Obasa explained that the proposed law seeks to strengthen the health sector by producing highly skilled professionals through specialised tertiary education. He noted that the institution would expand access to courses in medicine, nursing, and other health sciences.
The Speaker thereafter referred the bill to the Joint Committee on Tertiary Institutions and Health Services for further legislative and public scrutiny. The committee is expected to present its findings within three weeks.
Chairman of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Ajani Owolabi, said the university would significantly increase admission opportunities for medical students. He pointed out that most medical schools currently admit fewer than 100 students annually, but the new institution could accommodate over 1,000, thereby widening access to medical training.
Supporting the proposal, lawmaker Musbau Lawal said the university would curb the “relocation syndrome” among youths seeking medical education abroad and help address the shortage of doctors and health professionals. He cited LASUCOM as an example of a successful model.
Another lawmaker, Saheed Obafemi, added that the bill would create jobs in health and education while boosting Lagos State’s economy.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other lawmakers also debated the merits and potential challenges of the proposed legislation.