The Senate in an ongoing legislative move, is seeking for establishment of Federal University of Medical and Environmental Sciences. TAIYE ODEWALE examines reasons behind the move.
Origin of the idea
The idea for establishment of Federal University of Medical and Environmental Sciences was mooted by Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (APC Ekiti Central) through a bill sponsored to that effect and given first reading on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.
In less than a month, precisely on Tuesday, March 16, 2021, the bill was passed for second reading on the floor of the Senate after exhaustive debate on it by Senators, sequel to lead debate presentation made by Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
Bamidele in his lead debate said that the essence of the bill is to provide a highly specialised institution that is not only productive but needed for medical advancement of the country.
He said: “The University will be delivering education and training to current and future employees of medical profession.
“The goal of the university is to inspire and motivate students and medical personnel about the value of becoming health professionals so as to lead the change for realising a more sustainable health sector that serves a more sustainable world.”
Public hearing on the University
In line with legislative procedure, the Senate after passing the bill for second reading, mandated its Committee on Health to make more legislative inputs into it by way of public hearing.
Six weeks after the mandate, precisely on Monday June 25, 2021, the Senator Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe led Committee on Health, swung into action with public hearing on the bill where the sponsor (Senator Opeyemi Bamidele) , made a power point presentation on the need for the University of Medical and Environmental Sciences in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti state .
He said: “The Bill seeks to establish the Federal University of Medical and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti and make comprehensive provisions for its due management and administration.
“The university will be delivering education and training to current and future employees of 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 realising a more sustainable health sector that serves a more sustainable world.
“The objectives of the University among others include: (a) To encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring a higher education in Health and other Health Sciences; (b) To develop and offer academic and professional programme leading to the award of diplomas, first degrees, postgraduate research and higher degrees with emphasis on planning, adaptive, technical, maintenance, developmental and productive skills in the field of Health, biomedical engineering, scientific, and allied professional disciplines relating to health resources with the aim of producing socially mature persons with capacity not only to understand, use and adapt existing technologies in the health industry, but also to improve on those disciplines and develop new ones, and to contribute to the scientific transformation of medical and other health practices in Nigeria; (c) To act as agents and catalysts, through postgraduate training, research and innovation for the effective and economic utilisation, exploitation and conservation of Nigeria’s natural, economic and human resources;
Other objectives are (d) To offer to the general population, as a form of public service, the results of training and research in Health and allied disciplines and to foster the practical application of those results;
(e) To establish appropriate relationships with other national institutions involved in training, research and development of health care;
(f) To identify medical needs of Nigeria and to find solutions to them within the context of overall national development;
(g) To provide and promote sound basic scientific training as a foundation for the development of Health and allied disciplines, taking into account indigenous culture, the need to enhance national unity, the need to vastly increase the practical content of student training, and adequate preparation of graduates for self-employment in Health and allied professions.
“Distinguished colleagues and stakeholders, our health has very high potentials, and requires high level technical, scientific and administrative skills to drive it. The university is therefore to further advanced knowledge through research and nurture unique innovations in the health sector.
“This bill is well organised for its very own purpose of a modern academic and research institution. The objectives of the university as articulated above are supportive of its mission and broad vision of a modern institution that will develop world-class medical personnel that can sustainably manage our nation’s health sector by providing medical expertise at the highest level.
“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.
“Let me also stress the fact that the location of the University site, Iyin Ekiti an ancient and historic city known to have produced huge numbers of professors is very instructive.
“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”.
Support from Iyin Ekiti Leaders
Expectedly, at the Public hearing, sons and daughters of Iyin Ekiti, led by their traditional ruler, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye and President of the Community Progressive Union , Mr Akinjide Akinleye, said 1,000 hectares of Land have been secured for the proposed Institution.
Mr Akinleye who made presentation on behalf of the community, said the required enabling environment in terms of critical infrastructures and social amenities are in place to make staff and students of such institution feel at home at all times.
“We place on record our sincere appreciation to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for counting Iyin Ekiti worthy of being the host of the proposed University.
“We say it loud and clear that the good people of Iyin and their neighbours are very much expectant of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences “, he said.
In his own remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Senator Ibrahim Yahaya – Oloriegbe (APC Kwara Central), said the aggregation of views made at the public hearing by all the stakeholders, would guide the committee in its final report to the Senate.
