The Senate on Wednesday passed a bill seeking to establish the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Red Chamber equally passed a bill seeking the establishment of the Federal College of Education, Gwoza in Borno State. The Bill was sponsored by Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume.
The Bill for the establishment of the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences in Abeokuta, Ogun State was sponsored by former Ogun State governor and Senator representing Ogun Central, Ibikunle Amosun.
Senator Amosun had in February last year in his lead debate said that the establishment of specialized medical universities have become very important in the country as there are high demands for medical and health professionals in Nigeria.
According to the lawmaker, “many reports suggest that the number of Doctors, Dentists, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, and Bachelor’s Degree-prepared Nurses in the country are just not adequate to deal with the increasing population growth and the healthcare needs of Nigerians.”
He further noted that the “rising wave of external migration of medical and allied health professionals seeking greener pastures in more developed countries further compounds the problem.”
The lawmaker lamented that the mass emigration of needed professionals from the country has resulted in the near-extinction of some disciplines offered by Nigerian universities.
Wednesday passage of both bills followed the consideration of two separate reports by the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary); and Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND.
Senator representing Kwara North, Umar Sadiq, who presented the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary) report noted that the establishment of the Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences was informed by the imperative to create more access to higher education in the field of medicine and medical sciences.
He added that when established, the university would attract people to Abeokuta, Ogun State through the provision of higher education academic and professional programs to those seeking to pursue degrees in the field of medicine and allied professional disciplines.
Senator representing Cross Rivers central, Sandy Onor, who presented the report by the Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND Committee on behalf of the Chairman, Babba Kaita Ahmad, said the establishment of the Federal College of Education, Gwoza, would support the North-East zone in improving educational infrastructural needs while balancing access to education among diverse demographics in the country.
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