Campus News

MEDICAL TRAINING EXPANSION

UNILORIN, 17 other varsities to benefit from N110bn FG grant

……Alabi heads Monitoring Committee

By Abubakar Imam

The University of Ilorin has been selected as one of the 18 universities to benefit from the sum of ₦110 billion set aside by the Federal Government to facilitate the expansion of training facilities for medical doctors and allied professionals.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, last Tuesday (April 29, 2025) in Abuja while inaugurating the Ministerial Committee on TETFund High Impact Intervention Project for Medical Schools Rehabilitation across the Six Geo-political Zones.

The 12-man committee, under the chairmanship of the Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, who is also the Chairman of the Association of Provosts of Colleges of Medicine, Prof. Biodun Sulyman Alabi; is to monitor the implementation of the project.

               Dr Alausa explained that the project will be implemented through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

He added that the money is specifically set aside to enhance the study of Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy and Nursing in 18 universities, three from each of the nation’s six geopolitical zones.

               According to the Minister, the University of Ilorin and other benefiting institutions would receive approximately N4 billion, including N750 million for hostel construction.

Other benefiting universities, according to Dr Alausa, are Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka; Bayelsa State University; University of Lagos; Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria; University of Benin and Imo State University, Owerri.

Also included are University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; University of Ibadan; Benue State University, Makurdi; Umar Musa Yar’Adua University, Katsina; University of Nigeria, Nsukka and University of Calabar.

The list also includes Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi; University of Jos; University of Ilorin; University of Maiduguri; Uthman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, and Gombe State University.

Dr Alausa said the intervention, which will run for five years consecutively, would hit N1.5 trillion after five years.

The minister said, “Today, we are deploying over 100 billion in our medical institutions across the country. This N110 billion includes N70 billion on rehabilitation of our medical institutions.”

               He stated that the investment would lead to massive increase in enrolment for the four medical sciences programmes.

“With the investment today, in five years we would have invested N1.5 trillion in our medical education,” the Minister said, adding that the move would also see the establishment of eight simulation labs across the six geo-political zones.

While expressing the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to improving medical education in Nigeria and ultimately improving healthcare delivery in the country, Dr Alausa said the TETFUND High Impact Intervention Project is a direct response to the need to upgrade and expand the facilities in Nigerian medical schools, to ensure that they are equipped with the latest technologies and resources.

Inaugurating the Committee, Dr Alausa said that its Terms of Reference(ToR) include ensuring adherence to project goals, monitoring the proper use of funds, and maintaining detailed records.

The ccommittee was also charged to ensure that the funds allocated to the rehabilitation of medical schools are used effectively as well as be responsible for ensuring that all stakeholders—including medical school administrators, faculty, students, and relevant health bodies—are fully engaged throughout the projects’ implementation.

In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Project Monitoring committee, Prof. Alabi, thanked the Federal Government for the opportunity given to him and his colleagues.

He assured the government that they would do their best to ensure that the projects are executed to specifications.

Reacting to the development, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, who also graced the event, said, “The choice of our University as one of the beneficiaries among the 18 universities of the High Impact Intervention to expand access to medical training is a great news and the University of Ilorin is happy about this.”

               Prof. Egbewole added that the intervention will improve medical training as well as provide opportunity for us to accommodate more students in the four focus areas of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Dentistry”.

The Vice Chancellor noted that the intervention is further complimented with the allocation of the Simulation centre as he assured that “we will commence the process of accessing the intervention immediately and will put in place measures that will ensure the project is delivered without delay.”

The event was witnessed by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Mr Sonny Echono; the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu; as well as Vice Chancellors of other benefiting universities, among other dignitaries.