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Targets healthcare manpower boost
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Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commissioned a new 250-bed hostel at the Lagos State College of Nursing (LASCON), Igando, as part of efforts to expand healthcare manpower and improve the welfare and training environment of nursing students in the state.
Sanwo-Olu, who spoke during the commissioning, said the facility represented more than an addition to the college’s physical infrastructure, describing it as an investment in human capital development and the future of healthcare delivery in Lagos.
The hostel is equipped with training and registration facilities, solar power infrastructure and 24-hour CCTV surveillance, among other amenities designed to provide students with a conducive and secure learning environment.
The governor said nurses remained indispensable to the healthcare system, stressing that their expertise and commitment were critical to meeting the healthcare needs of Lagos’ rapidly growing population.
He disclosed that his administration was also pursuing approval for the establishment of a University of Medical Sciences in Lagos, saying the proposed institution would further expand the state’s capacity to train doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals.
According to him, the initiative is expected to help address the shortage of skilled healthcare workers and ease the pressure on existing health facilities across the state.
Sanwo-Olu urged the students and management of LASCON to take ownership of the new facility and ensure its proper maintenance.
He said responsible use of public infrastructure would strengthen the government’s confidence to provide more facilities, while calling for stronger collaboration between the government and healthcare professionals.
The governor assured members of the nursing profession that his administration would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving their working and learning conditions.
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Earlier, the Provost of LASCON, Dr Ayodeji Ogunmuyiwa, said the new hostel would significantly increase the institution’s capacity to train nurses at a time Nigeria continues to grapple with a shortage of healthcare professionals.
Ogunmuyiwa said Lagos, with a population of more than 20 million people, required a corresponding expansion in the training of healthcare personnel, but noted that regulatory limitations had continued to constrain the college’s annual admission capacity.
She said improved infrastructure was therefore critical to expanding training opportunities and producing more qualified nurses for the state and the country.
The Provost also highlighted the college’s recent achievements, including a 100 per cent success rate in professional examinations, the upgrade of its Information and Communication Technology centre and the establishment of a modern Computer-Based Test centre for digital assessments.
She disclosed that LASCON would graduate its first set of students this year, while appealing to the state government to provide additional buses, employ more qualified personnel and create placement opportunities for the graduating students.
Ogunmuyiwa commended the Sanwo-Olu administration for its support for the college’s accreditation process and approval of funding for its academic programmes.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, described the hostel as another demonstration of the government’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education and empowering young people with the skills required to contribute to society.
Sule said the investment would provide a more conducive environment for students to acquire not only professional knowledge but also the discipline and character required of healthcare professionals.
The commissioning of the hostel is part of the Lagos State Government’s broader investment in education and healthcare infrastructure, with the administration seeking to strengthen institutions responsible for producing the skilled workforce required to sustain the state’s expanding health sector.
