By Adeola Kunle
Governor Umar Namadi pledges sustained funding as Minister says institution will strengthen Nigeria's healthcare workforce
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has formally recognised the Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Sciences, Majia, marking a historic milestone in Nigeria's higher education sector as the country's first privately established university to be acquired and transformed into a state-owned public institution.
The Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusuf Ribadu, described the recognition as a landmark development for both Jigawa State and Nigeria's university system, saying it represents a strategic response to the country's growing shortage of healthcare professionals.
He noted that Nigeria's doctor-to-population ratio remains far below global standards and has been worsened by the migration of many qualified medical personnel abroad. According to him, expanding quality medical education through specialised institutions is critical to producing the healthcare workforce needed to meet the country's growing population and improve healthcare delivery.
Prof. Ribadu said the recognition also sets a new precedent, as it is the first time a state government has successfully acquired an existing private university and converted it into a public institution. He commended the Jigawa State Government for working closely with the Commission throughout the transition and complying with all regulatory requirements.
He disclosed that the Commission would notify agencies including JAMB, TETFund, NYSC and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) to update the university's status, enabling eligible students to enjoy all benefits available to those in public universities.
Providing further updates, the NUC Executive Secretary said Nigeria now has 328 universities, with the Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Sciences becoming the country's 70th state-owned university. He explained that the institution would gradually transition into a fully specialised medical university, allowing existing students in non-medical programmes to complete their studies while discontinuing new admissions into such courses.
Beginning from the 2027 academic session, he said the university is expected to introduce programmes including Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacy, Public Health, Radiography, Nutrition and Dietetics, Health Information Management and other allied health disciplines after the mandatory NUC resource verification exercise.
Prof. Ribadu also urged the Jigawa State Government to sustain adequate funding for both the new medical university and Sule Lamido University, Kafin Hausa, stressing that long-term investment would be essential to their success.
In his remarks, Governor Umar Namadi described the formal recognition as the culmination of a deliberate effort by the state government to preserve an institution that faced uncertainty and transform it into a specialised university capable of meeting Jigawa's healthcare manpower needs.
He said the decision was driven by the state's expanding healthcare infrastructure and the growing demand for doctors and other health professionals. While revealing that Jigawa currently sponsors nearly 200 medical students abroad, the Governor said the state would gradually redirect those resources to develop a world-class medical university at home.
"Our students studying abroad will complete their programmes, but going forward, we intend to invest those resources in our own university. Our goal is to build an institution that meets international standards and produces healthcare professionals who can compete anywhere in the world," he said.
Responding to questions from journalists after the ceremony, Governor Namadi assured that the specialised university would receive sustainable funding, saying the government had undertaken careful financial planning before embarking on the project.
"As a Chartered Accountant, I would not embark on a project of this magnitude without proper financial planning and a clear cash flow strategy. We understand the financial commitment involved, and the government is fully prepared to sustain this institution," he stated.
Also speaking, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa'id Ahmad, congratulated the Government and people of Jigawa State on the formal recognition of the university, describing it as a landmark investment in education and healthcare. She commended Governor Namadi for his visionary leadership and praised the National Universities Commission for ensuring that the transition complied with established regulatory standards.
Professor Suwaiba urged the university to focus on quality, relevance and service by producing competent healthcare professionals, promoting research that addresses Nigeria's healthcare challenges and strengthening partnerships with healthcare institutions and surrounding communities. She reaffirmed the Federal Government's commitment to supporting states that invest strategically in higher education and expressed confidence that the university would grow into a nationally recognised centre of excellence in medical and allied health education.
The formal recognition of the Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Sciences represents a major boost to Nigeria's efforts to expand access to quality medical education, strengthen healthcare delivery and develop the skilled workforce needed to meet the country's present and future healthcare demands.
Adeola Kunle
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