The Lagos State Government has approved the transformation of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) into a full-fledged, specialized medical university. The new institution, to be named the University of Medicine and Health Sciences, is set to revolutionize medical education in Nigeria and intensify efforts to curb the mass exodus of healthcare professionals.
The announcement was made on Friday by Tolani Sule, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, during a high-level stakeholders' meeting held at LASUCOM’s Conference Hall. Top officials from LASUCOM and the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) were present as Sule confirmed the approval of a draft law for submission to the Lagos State House of Assembly to legalize the upgrade.
The bold project aims to set a new benchmark in Nigeria’s healthcare education system. With LASUTH as the main clinical training center and a network of teaching facilities spread across Lagos's IBILE administrative divisions, the university is positioned to produce 1,500 medical graduates annually—a move designed to stem the ongoing medical brain drain.
“The Sanwo-Olu administration is fully committed to this upgrade and will not back down,” declared Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Commissioner for Health. He revealed that a sprawling site in Ketu-Ejirin, Epe, has been secured to serve as the university’s primary campus, housing administrative buildings and basic medical science programs. Clinical training will be conducted at LASUTH and other top-tier general and private hospitals across the state, ensuring that students benefit from state-of-the-art healthcare facilities.
The conversion of LASUCOM into a standalone medical university is part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's mission to reposition Lagos as a hub of medical excellence. In January, the governor promised to establish a medical university to address the shortage of doctors and retain talent within Nigeria’s borders.
“This university will not only graduate a larger pool of healthcare professionals but also inspire other states to emulate Lagos’s vision,” Sanwo-Olu had stated, reaffirming that the project would be completed by the end of 2024.
The announcement was met with enthusiasm from LASUCOM’s management. Prof. Abiodun Adewuya, the Provost of LASUCOM, praised the state government for its unwavering commitment.
“The Sanwo-Olu administration has proven beyond doubt that it is capable of delivering this dream. We are excited to transition into a full-fledged medical university and ready to work closely with the government to achieve this vision,” Adewuya said.
The University of Medicine and Health Sciences will leverage the expertise of public and private healthcare personnel to churn out highly trained medical professionals, setting new standards in Nigeria’s health sector.
