In a bid to expand Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and improve the quality of medical education, the Federal Government has signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Achievers University, Owo, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo, Ondo State.
The MoU, signed at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja, will enable Achievers University to utilize FMC Owo’s facilities for the clinical training of its students in medicine, nursing, and allied health programmes. This initiative aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed health agenda, which emphasized public-private partnerships to address Nigeria’s acute shortage of healthcare professionals.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the agreement as a timely and strategic move. He noted that the collaboration reflects the Federal Government’s vision to harness private sector potential in enhancing both education and healthcare delivery.
“This MoU exemplifies the vision of Mr. President to harness private investment in health and education. Expanding clinical training opportunities is crucial, particularly as Nigeria faces a significant brain drain in the health sector,” Dr. Salako stated.
He further revealed that the government is developing mechanisms to ensure that destination countries benefiting from Nigeria’s trained health professionals contribute to strengthening the country’s health system.
Founder and Pro-Chancellor of Achievers University, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, expressed gratitude to the Ministry for its professionalism, noting that the process that led to the signing of the MoU was transparent and devoid of political interference.
“In the last nine months, from submitting our proposal to this point, everything followed due process. This agreement is more than a document—it’s a commitment to excellence in medical education,” Prof. Ayorinde said.
Also speaking, the Medical Director of FMC Owo, Dr. Hamed Liasu, affirmed the hospital’s readiness to execute the partnership, noting that FMC Owo currently trains resident doctors in 11 accredited departments. He added that Achievers University has shown interest in upgrading the centre to a full-fledged teaching hospital to accommodate its medical, pharmacy, and physiotherapy programmes.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Dr. Salaudeen Jimoh, Director of Hospital Services at the Ministry, alongside other senior officials from the Ministry, representatives from Achievers University, and the management team of FMC Owo.
