The Federal Government has approved the establishment of a teaching hospital in Akure, Ondo State, to enhance the training of medical students at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA).
President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammad Pate, to oversee the necessary arrangements for the hospital’s creation. In response, Prof. Pate has sent a team to Ondo State to assess potential locations for the facility.
The team, led by Dr. Jimoh Olawole Salaudeen, Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health, toured FUTA’s permanent campus, which has been designated for the teaching hospital. The team also visited the Akure Annex of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital (UNIMEDTH), which will serve as a temporary location for the hospital while the permanent site is developed.
Following the inspection, Dr. Salaudeen expressed confidence in the project’s progress, citing the adequacy of the available infrastructure. “President Tinubu has made it clear that Akure should have a federal teaching hospital,” Salaudeen said. “We are here to coordinate with the state government and evaluate the options for establishing the hospital.”
He emphasized the urgency of the project, noting that FUTA’s medical program is already underway, with students now in their third year of study. “The state government has provided a temporary site, and we are encouraged by the facilities at the permanent site, including an auditorium, health center, and classrooms,” he added.
Dr. Salaudeen also mentioned that the team’s next task would be to assess the equipment needs at the temporary site to ensure it meets the standards of a model federal tertiary hospital that will support student training. “The support from the local community is strong, which will contribute to creating a conducive and peaceful learning environment,” he noted.
Dr. Banji Ajaka, Ondo State’s Commissioner for Health, assured reporters of the state government’s full commitment to the project. “We have already drafted a memorandum of understanding and laid the groundwork for the medical students to complete their training on time,” he said, emphasizing the state’s alignment with the president’s vision.
FUTA’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adenike Oladiji, expressed relief at the development. “We’ve been concerned about where our medical students would complete their clinical studies. I’m thrilled that the federal government has intervened with a solution,” she said.
Prof. Oladiji also highlighted FUTA’s biomedical engineering department, which aims to support the health sciences school by producing essential medical equipment. “This initiative is a perfect fit for our mission to train the next generation of health professionals and engineers, who will drive innovation and contribute to the healthcare sector,” she concluded.
