The Federal Government has granted approval for the establishment of a teaching hospital in Akure, Ondo State, aimed at supporting the training of medical students at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).
President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, to oversee the necessary steps for setting up the teaching hospital. Prof. Pate has since sent a team to Ondo State to evaluate potential locations.
Dr. Jimoh Olawole Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, led the team to inspect the designated permanent site for the hospital at FUTA’s campus. The team also visited the Akure Annex of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), which will serve as a temporary facility until the permanent hospital is operational.
After the inspection, Dr. Salaudeen expressed confidence that the hospital would soon be functional, highlighting the availability of facilities. “President Tinubu’s directive was clear: Akure must have a federal teaching hospital,” Salaudeen said. “We are here to coordinate with the state government and assess the proposed sites for the hospital’s establishment.”
He emphasized the urgency of the project, noting that FUTA has already begun training medical students, with some in their third year. “The state government has provided a temporary site, and we are satisfied with the infrastructure at the permanent site, including an auditorium, health center, and classrooms,” Salaudeen added.
“Our focus now is to identify the equipment needs at the temporary site and develop a model federal tertiary hospital that will support student training. The strong community support we’ve received is promising and will help create a conducive learning environment,” he said.
Ondo State’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, reiterated the state government’s commitment to the project, emphasizing that it would align with the president’s vision. “We have already drafted an MOU and made progress to ensure that medical students complete their training on time,” Ajaka noted.
FUTA’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, expressed her relief, stating, “We’ve been concerned about where our medical students would carry out their clinical studies. I’m very pleased that the federal government has stepped in to provide a solution.”
Prof. Oladiji also highlighted the role of FUTA’s biomedical engineering department, which aims to contribute to the healthcare sector by producing vital medical equipment. “This initiative is a perfect match for our commitment to training future health professionals and engineers who can innovate and support the healthcare industry,” she concluded.
Peoplesmind
