Kwara State Governor and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has identified inadequate funding as a major challenge affecting Nigerian universities, especially in the area of medical education.
He said this while receiving the National President of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Prince Mosediq Adeniji-Kazeem, during a courtesy visit to the Ahmadu Bello House in Ilorin, Kwara State capital.
Governor AbdulRazaq said his administration has been offering strategic support to tertiary institutions in the state to enhance health professional training and improve infrastructure. He noted that his government is focused on strengthening university-based medical training in Kwara.
“In Kwara State, we have about eight private universities. We are deliberately supporting them by upgrading their access to teaching hospitals,” he said. “When we came in, there was only one medical school, the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Now, we have transformed the General Hospital in Ilorin into the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital.”
He added that the state government has designated other public health facilities as teaching hospitals, including Sobi Specialist Hospital for Al-Hikmah University, General Hospital Omu-Aran for Thomas Adewumi University, and is in talks with another university seeking to take over the General Hospital in Offa.
“These steps are deliberate and targeted at expanding opportunities for medical education in Kwara. The biggest challenge for many universities remains funding, and that is why we are stepping in to ease the burden where possible,” AbdulRazaq stated.
He praised the Ansar-ud-Deen Society for its role in promoting education and religious harmony in Nigeria and pledged continued collaboration, especially in tertiary education. He said the state would consider the society’s request for an intra-campus road at Summit University, Offa.
Earlier, Prince Adeniji-Kazeem thanked the Governor for supporting education and healthcare development, especially his donation of a building for the Faculty of Health Sciences at Summit University.
“The university has been growing in leaps and bounds, and your support has been pivotal in that progress,” he said.
He commended AbdulRazaq for redefining public service through transparency and integrity, describing him as a model for political leadership in Nigeria.
“Some people often say politicians play tricks and games, but you have proven that people of integrity can make a difference in politics. We need more individuals like you to restore trust in public service,” the legal luminary said.
Prince Adeniji-Kazeem also highlighted Ansar-ud-Deen’s long-standing contributions to education in Nigeria, describing its mission as a complement to government efforts.
The delegation included the society’s Deputy President, Ibrahim Adebayo Yusuf; National Missioner, Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad; National Secretary, Rahmon Salaudeen; and veteran labour leader, Najim Usman Yasin.
PIAK