Abuja: The National Universities Commission (NUC) has recognised the Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Sciences 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.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, speaking at the recognition ceremony in Abuja, NUC Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the development would expand access to quality medical education and address healthcare workforce shortages. Ribadu noted 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. He emphasized the critical need for additional medical institutions to produce the healthcare personnel required for the country’s growing needs.
Ribadu commended the Jigawa Government for collaborating with the commission throughout the acquisition process, ensuring compliance with relevant regulatory requirements. He also mentioned that the commission would formally notify various agencies about the university’s new status. This notification would enable students of the institution to benefit from government interventions, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and other support programmes.
The NUC Executive Secretary urged the state government to provide sustainable funding for both the new medical university and Sule Lamido University to ensure effective mandate delivery. He advised the institution to maintain uninterrupted academic activities while protecting the interests of existing staff and students during the transition. The university would retain its current non-medical programmes until enrolled students completed their studies, after which these courses would be phased out to focus exclusively on medical and allied health programmes.
Ribadu revealed that from the 2027 academic session, the university would introduce programmes in Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Radiography, and Health Information Management, subject to successful NUC resource verification and compliance with academic standards. He also highlighted that Nigeria now had 328 universities following the issuance of provisional licences to additional institutions across the country.
Jigawa Governor, Umar Namadi, explained that the state acquired the former private university to strengthen healthcare manpower development and build local training capacity. While the state currently sponsors about 200 medical students abroad, the establishment of a specialised institution is aimed at meeting future workforce needs locally. Namadi assured that the institution would serve as a specialised centre for training medical and allied health professionals to support healthcare delivery in Jigawa and Nigeria.
Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, described the recognition as a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare workers. She noted that the university aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to expand access to quality education, strengthen healthcare services, and develop skilled manpower. Ahmad reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting states making strategic investments in education and healthcare through collaboration with the NUC and other stakeholders.