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The Federal Government on Thursday formally took over the Ondo State Specialist Hospital Akure, to be used by the Federal University of Technology, Akure(FUTA) for use as a teaching hospital.
FUTA has NUC accreditation to run its MBBS program and is currently working towards accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The university received formal approval from the NUC in April 2021 to start the program, and it is in the process of meeting the MDCN’s requirements.
The takeover by the Federal Government on Thursday was a final step to meeting the MDCN’s requirement.
Transfer followed a signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Health and the Government of Ondo State.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Coordinating Minister of Health, Muhammad Pate, said the administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to changing the health and social landscape of the country.
”And in health, we’re expanding the footprints of Nigerian health sector in collaboration with state governments,” he said.
”This is just one more, the Federal University Teaching Hospital here in Akure, but there’s several other elements of that collaboration.
”There are many trainees, specialists, residents, pharmacists, nurses that will be trained in this facility.”
He said with more collaborations Nigerians would see the realization of the desired health system.
The Teaching Hospital complex, was officially christened, the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital (FUTATH), as it would henceforth serve as a medical education, training and research center for students of FUTA as well as provide specialized care to patients.
The ceded facility, was first the Akure Specialists Hospital which later was transfered to the state University of Medical Sciences, Ondo Town(UNIMED) as its teaching hospital.
UNIMED had since acquired other teaching facilities at the medical village, Laje road and hospital road in Ondo city, Ondo state.
While formally handing over the complex to the Federal Government, the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who was represented by his deputy, Olayide Adelami, said his administration took the bold step to further deepen medical education and research in the country.
”The decision to handover this hospital is rooted in a clear and strategic vision to elevate the standard of healthcare for every citizen of Ondo state and the country as a whole,” he said.
”By handing over this asset to the Federal Government of Nigeria, we are effectively unlocking a stream of superior funding, advanced equipment procurement, specialised personnel recruitment and robust inclusion in national and international research networks.
”It ensures a future where our citizens will have access to expanded array of specialist services. We are confident that the brilliant minds we train here will benefit from enhanced research opportunities and collaboration with federal universities. Again, the hospital’s infrastructure will undergo comprehensive modernisation.”
He thanked President Bola Tinubu for prioritizing the health and well-being of Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The governor assured staff of the institution of a seamless transition to the new management, saying the teaching hospital will thrive globally in medical education under the watch of the federal government.
”As I sign this instrument of transfer today, I do so with profound optimism. I see not just a transfer of an asset, but the gifting of a greater future to the Sunshine state,” the governor said.
”I see a future where this institution, now under the federal government, will become a globally recognised centre of medical excellence, saving countless lives and defining a new era of healthcare in Nigeria.”
Remarking, Deji of Akure, Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, appreciated the president and the governor for the seamless transition, as he assured the government of total support of the host community for the teaching hospital.