The Lagos State House of Assembly has taken a major step toward reshaping Nigeria’s health sector with a new bill seeking to establish the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Lagos. The bill, which scaled second reading on Thursday, is being touted as a game-changer that could end the chronic shortage of doctors and health workers in the state.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, while presenting the bill during plenary, said the proposed law would revolutionise medical education in Lagos by producing highly skilled professionals through specialised training. According to him, the university would expand access to courses in medicine, nursing, and other critical health sciences, ensuring that more young Nigerians can pursue careers in healthcare without leaving the country.
The bill has been referred to a joint committee on tertiary institutions and health services for further scrutiny, with the committee expected to present its report within three weeks.
Chairman of the committee on tertiary institutions, Ajani Owolabi, said the proposed university would be a lifeline for thousands of medical aspirants. He noted that while most medical schools in Nigeria admit fewer than 100 students annually, the Lagos medical university could admit over 1,000, dramatically increasing access to medical education.
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Lawmaker Musbau Lawal hailed the development, stressing that it would reduce the “relocation syndrome” among youths who often seek medical education abroad due to limited opportunities at home. He added that the move would not only strengthen the state’s healthcare system but also curb the brain drain that has seen many Nigerian doctors migrate overseas.
Another legislator, Saheed Obafemi, pointed out that the university would help tackle unemployment by creating jobs in both the health and education sectors, while also boosting Lagos’ economy.
With debates ongoing, the proposed University of Medicine and Health Sciences is being positioned as a bold solution to Nigeria’s healthcare crisis, offering hope that Lagos could soon become a hub for world-class medical training and innovation.
