The National Universities Commission (NUC) has recognised the Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Sciences, Taura as Nigeria’s 70th state-owned university, marking a milestone in efforts to strengthen healthcare education.
The recognition also represents the first instance of a state government acquiring an existing private university and converting it into a public institution within Nigeria’s university system.
Speaking at the recognition ceremony in Abuja on Thursday, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the development would expand access to quality medical education and address healthcare workforce shortages.
He said that Nigeria’s doctor-to-population ratio remained significantly below the World Health Organisation’s recommended benchmark, a challenge worsened by the migration of healthcare professionals to other countries.
According to him, the establishment of additional medical institutions remains critical to producing the healthcare personnel required to meet the country’s growing healthcare needs.
“Today’s recognition is an important one, not only for Jigawa, but also for the Nigerian university system. There is no doubt that Nigeria faces a serious shortage of healthcare professionals. Our doctor-to-population ratio remains far below the World Health Organization’s recommended benchmark.
“The situation is being compounded by the continued migration of medical personnel to other countries. So, in terms of the figures, if you see the doctor-to-population ratio, there may be issues. Some is one to 4,000, 3,500, and the figures that you see from the WHO is one to 4,000. So, it’s really a problem,” he said.
The NUC boss commended the Jigawa Government for working closely with the commission throughout the acquisition process to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
He said that the commission would formally notify the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), TETFund, NYSC, NELFund and other agencies of the university’s new status.
According to Ribadu, the notification would enable students of the institution to benefit from government interventions, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and other support programmes.
He urged the state government to provide sustainable funding for both the new medical university and Sule Lamido University to ensure effective delivery of their mandates.
Ribadu also advised the institution to maintain uninterrupted academic activities while protecting the interests of existing staff and students throughout the transition process.
He explained that the university would retain its current non-medical programmes until enrolled students completed their studies, after which the courses would be phased out.
According to him, the institution would focus exclusively on medical and allied health programmes in line with its specialised mandate and long-term development objectives.
Ribadu said that beginning from the 2027 academic session, the university would introduce programmes in Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Radiography and Health Information Management.
He said that the introduction of the programmes would be subject to successful NUC resource verification and compliance with established academic standards.
The NUC Executive Secretary further said that Nigeria now had 328 universities following the issuance of provisional licences to additional institutions across the country.
In his remarks, Jigawa Governor, Umar Namadi, said the state acquired the former private university to strengthen healthcare manpower development and build local training capacity.
Namadi explained that although the state currently sponsored about 200 medical students abroad, it decided to establish a specialised institution to meet future healthcare workforce needs.
“The students currently studying abroad will have to graduate first. After that, instead of sending students overseas, we will train them in our own university. We want to ensure that the doctors produced by the university meet international best practices,” he said.
The governor said the institution would serve as a specialised centre for training medical and allied health professionals to support healthcare delivery in Jigawa and Nigeria.
He commended the NUC for its guidance throughout the transition process and pledged sustained support for both the new university and Sule Lamido University.
Namadi also assured the commission that the state government would provide the resources required to transform the institution into a centre of excellence.
Also speaking, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the recognition as a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare workers.
Ahmad said the university aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at expanding access to quality education, strengthening healthcare services and developing skilled manpower.
She urged the institution to prioritise quality training, relevant research and community service while ensuring its programmes addressed Nigeria’s specific healthcare challenges.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting states making strategic investments in education and healthcare through collaboration with the NUC and other stakeholders.
(NAN)
