The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a new teaching hospital in Akure, Ondo State, aimed at supporting the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) in training medical students. This project, backed by President Bola Tinubu, seeks to provide essential clinical training opportunities for students at the university.

President Tinubu has directed the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, to oversee the planning and implementation of the teaching hospital. Prof. Pate promptly dispatched a team to Ondo State to assess potential locations for the facility. The inspection team, led by Dr. Jimoh Olawole Salaudeen, the Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, visited the proposed site at FUTA’s campus and the Akure Annex of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), which will serve as a temporary base until the permanent hospital is ready.

Dr. Salaudeen expressed confidence that the teaching hospital would soon be operational, with initial evaluations showing a solid foundation for the project. “President Tinubu’s directive was clear: Akure must have a federal teaching hospital,” Salaudeen said. “We are here to collaborate with the state government and evaluate the proposed sites.”

ALSO READ: Acquire Vocational Skills for Self-Reliance, Ondo Senator Advises Youths

The establishment of the hospital is particularly crucial as FUTA has already begun educating medical students, some of whom are in their third year. Dr. Salaudeen highlighted that the state government had already provided a temporary site for medical students’ clinical training, and the inspection team found the proposed permanent site to be well-equipped with essential infrastructure like classrooms, an auditorium, and a health center.

The focus now shifts to identifying the equipment needs for the temporary site and planning the development of a model federal tertiary hospital. This hospital will serve not only as a facility for medical training but also as a resource to support the broader community’s healthcare needs.

Dr. Banji Ajaka, Ondo State’s Commissioner for Health, reaffirmed the state’s support for the project, stating that it aligns with the president’s vision for strengthening the nation’s healthcare system. “We have made significant progress and drafted an MOU to ensure medical students complete their training on time,” he said.

FUTA’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, shared her relief, noting that the establishment of the teaching hospital would address concerns about clinical training for medical students. “We’ve been worried about where our students would gain clinical experience, and now the federal government’s intervention has provided a clear path forward,” she said.

Furthermore, Prof. Oladiji emphasized the importance of FUTA’s biomedical engineering department in the broader healthcare initiative, which will also focus on producing vital medical equipment to meet industry needs. This collaboration underscores the university’s commitment to fostering innovation in the healthcare sector and training future health professionals and engineers.