BY LEVI JOHNSON
Ekiti State has gotten the Senate’s approval for the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Iyin.
The establishment of the institution which was sponsored by the Senator representing Ekiti Central, Opeyemi Bamidele passed for a second reading on Tuesday.
According to Bamidele, the Ekiti State Government has already offered to release about 1,000 hectares of land for the take-off of the institution.
He said: “The University will be delivering education and training to current and future employees of the medical profession.
“The goal of the university is to inspire and motivate students and medical personnel about the value of being health professionals so as to lead change for realizing a more sustainable health sector that serves a more sustainable world.”
He described the location of the University site, Iyin Ekiti, is an ancient and historic city known to have produced huge numbers of professors.
“It may interest you to know that the Ekiti State Government is ready to part with over 1000 acres of land in support of the establishment of this institution,” he said.
He added: “The University is, therefore, to further advance knowledge through research and nurture unique innovations, entrepreneurship and wealth management in its core area of interest.
“The enactment of this Bill will help in transforming the health and educational fortunes in Nigeria in producing the desired medical manpower and expertise that Nigeria is yearning for.”
The Deputy Leader of the Senate, Senator Ajayi Boroffice, and Senator Ibrahim Gobir supported the establishment of the institution saying that it will support research.
They noted that the outbreak of the pandemic has exposed the poor state of medical facilities in the country due to lack of adequate manpower.
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They also said the establishment of the teaching university would hasten medical research into vaccine production in the country.
The Senate through a voice vote unanimously agreed that the bill is passed for second reading and the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred it to the Committee on Health, to report back in four weeks.