The federal government on Friday inaugurated N7 billion Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund)-supported projects at the Federal University of Health Sciences (FUSHI), Ila Orangun, Osun.

The minister of education, Tunji Alausa, said during the inauguration that the projects would elevate the quality of training, research, innovation and healthcare delivery for decades to come.

Mr Alausa said that the project was also an affirmation of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the ministry’s reform programme.

The minister described medical education as a national security priority, saying no country can grow beyond the quality of its health workforce.

He said that medical education is not merely an academic discipline but a national security priority, an economic growth engine and a measure of a nation’s civilisation.

According to him, a robust medical education reduces dependence on foreign medical care and curbs medical tourism.

Mr Alausa added that it was due to this reason that the president consistently emphasised the expansion of medical training institutions, the improvement of clinical learning environments and the modernisation of our health sciences infrastructure.

“Today’s inauguration is a reminder that the future of Nigeria’s healthcare delivery lies in the quality of our medical education system,” he said.

Mr Alausa urged the university management to maintain a culture of maintenance, innovation, discipline and academic distinction for the projects.

“These facilities must become hubs for world-class research, groundbreaking discoveries, and transformative teaching practices and be well maintained,” he said.

The chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Aminu Masari, said the inauguration of the projects signified meaningful progress towards the mission of making Nigerian tertiary institutions globally relevant and competitive.

Mr Masari, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, said that the inaugurated projects form part of the N10.5 billion allocated to the university from 2021 to date.

He said that out of the allocated funds, the university had accessed more than N9.4 billion, leaving a balance of N1.1 billion, most of which had already been committed.

He urged the management, staff and students of the university to ensure proper maintenance and protection of these facilities.

“Let me reaffirm that TETFund will continue to support the university’s drive for innovation, creativity and impactful research, while sustaining our investments in critical infrastructure,” he said.

In his remarks, the vice chancellor of the university, Akeem Lasisi, said that the institution, established in 2021, was currently running 13 programmes with a total student population of 3,493.

Mr Lasisi said that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had visited the university for the accreditation of nine of the programmes, while the remaining four would be ripe for accreditation in 2026.

He also said that 453 students of the university had benefited from more than N130 million from NELFund.

The pro-chancellor and chairman of the governing council of the university, Wale Sulaiman, said that the council was committed to ensuring that the institution becomes a hub for academic excellence, innovation and healthcare development.

Mr Sulaiman said that the inaugurated projects symbolise the dedication of the council in realising the vision of the university’s founding fathers.

He said the projects were also a symbol of the transformational agenda of the President to increase access to education and training of more medical personnel, improve access to healthcare for Nigerians, provide state-of-the-art medical facilities, foster research and promote academic excellence.

“One of our main priorities going forward is to continue to lay strong foundations for FUHSI to compete on the world stage,” he said.

Speaking, Governor Ademola Adeleke said that the state government was committed to supporting the university in its expansion and research advancement.

Represented by the commissioner for education, Dipo Eluwole, the governor said that education remains a priority of his administration.

The projects include the Senate Building, Health Centre, University Gate and Road, Multidisciplinary Clinical Centre, and Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, among others.

(NAN)