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.
The NUC said Nigeria now has 328 universities following the issuance of provisional licences to additional institutions across the country.
Speaking at the recognition ceremony in Abuja, the NUC Executive Secretary, Abdullahi Ribadu, said the development would expand access to quality medical education and help address healthcare workforce shortages.
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“Nigeria’s doctor-to-population ratio remains significantly below the World Health Organisation’s recommended benchmark, a challenge worsened by the migration of healthcare professionals to other countries. The establishment of additional medical institutions remains critical to producing the healthcare personnel required to meet the country’s growing healthcare needs. Today’s recognition is an important one, not only for Jigawa, but also for the Nigerian university system,” he said.
According to him, the shortage of health workers is being compounded by the continued migration of medical personnel to other countries, leaving a situation in which one doctor attends to about 4,000 patients, as referenced by the World Health Organisation.
Ribadu commended the Jigawa State Government for working closely with the commission throughout the acquisition process to ensure compliance with relevant regulatory requirements.
He said the commission would formally notify the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) and other agencies of the university’s new status.
“The notification will enable students of the institution to benefit from government interventions, including the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and other support programmes,” the NUC Executive Secretary explained.
He urged the state government to provide sustainable funding for both the new medical university and Sule Lamido University to ensure effective delivery of their mandates.
Ribadu also advised the institution to maintain uninterrupted academic activities while protecting the interests of existing staff and students throughout the transition process.
He explained that the university would retain its current non-medical programmes until enrolled students complete their studies, after which the courses would be phased out.
The NUC Executive Secretary, urged the institution to focus exclusively on medical and allied health programmes in line with its specialised mandate and long-term development objectives.
“Beginning from the 2027 academic session, the university will introduce programmes in Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Radiography and Health Information Management. The introduction of the programmes will be subject to successful NUC resource verification and compliance with established academic standards,” he said.
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, said the state acquired the former private university to strengthen healthcare manpower development and build local training capacity.
Namadi explained that although the state currently sponsors about 200 medical students abroad, it decided to establish a specialised institution to meet future healthcare workforce needs.
“The students currently studying abroad will have to graduate first. After that, instead of sending students overseas, we will train them in our own university. We want to ensure that the doctors produced by the university meet international best practices. The institution will serve as a specialised centre for training medical and allied health professionals to support healthcare delivery in Jigawa and Nigeria,” he said.
He commended the NUC for its guidance throughout the transition process and pledged sustained support for both the new university and Sule Lamido University.
Namadi also assured the commission that the state government would provide the resources required to transform the institution into a centre of excellence.
The Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, described the recognition as a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare workers.
For her part, Ahmad said the university aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at expanding access to quality education, strengthening healthcare services and developing skilled manpower.
“I urge the institution to prioritise quality training, relevant research and community service while ensuring its programmes address Nigeria’s specific healthcare challenges,” she added.
