In a historic step that signals a new dawn for medical education and healthcare delivery in Nigeria, the Ondo State Government has officially ceded the Akure Teaching Hospital complex to the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA).
The decision, which was announced by the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, came shortly after the State Executive Council meeting held in Akure. According to Dr. Ajaka, the handover followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in November 2024 for FUTA to establish a College of Medicine and a fully functional teaching hospital.
“This handover is comprehensive and strategic. It covers the physical facilities, medical equipment, staff, and even existing liabilities of the Akure Teaching Hospital complex. All of these will now be absorbed by the Federal Government and integrated into FUTA’s new College of Medicine,” Dr. Ajaka explained.
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The Scope of the Handover
Unlike previous healthcare collaborations where state and federal institutions shared responsibilities, the Akure Teaching Hospital cession is total. Every aspect of the hospital—its infrastructure, personnel, and obligations—will now fall under FUTA and by extension, the Federal Government.
Dr. Ajaka highlighted three main areas of transfer:
- Infrastructure & Equipment – From diagnostic machines to surgical theatres and laboratory facilities, every asset within the Akure Teaching Hospital complex is being reassigned. This guarantees that FUTA’s medical students will have access to real-world facilities, rather than relying solely on theoretical learning.
- Personnel – Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, administrative officers, and support staff who have been serving under the state-run hospital will be absorbed into the FUTA structure. This reassignment ensures no job losses while also strengthening the hospital’s capacity to deliver uninterrupted healthcare services.
- Liabilities – Unlike typical institutional handovers that focus on assets alone, this arrangement includes existing obligations. That means any outstanding financial responsibilities or commitments of the hospital will also be transferred, ensuring a clean start for the state while FUTA assumes full operational control.
Why the Move Matters
For Ondo State, this decision is more than just a transfer of property. It is a strategic investment in the state’s future healthcare system and medical education capacity. Nigeria has long faced a shortage of qualified doctors and healthcare workers, partly due to limited training facilities. The integration of the Akure hospital into FUTA’s academic structure aims to bridge that gap.
Medical students will now have a teaching hospital within their university community. This will improve the quality of training, provide hands-on experience, and strengthen Nigeria’s health research base. At the same time, residents of Akure and surrounding communities stand to benefit from upgraded healthcare delivery as the hospital transitions to federal standards.
Dr. Ajaka emphasised that the move aligns perfectly with FUTA’s ambition to become a globally recognised centre of excellence. “The hospital will not just serve as a training ground for future doctors; it will also be a hub for research, innovation, and quality service delivery,” he said.
A Presidential Push and What Comes Next
The cession traces back to 6 November 2024, when President Bola Tinubu granted approval for FUTA to establish its College of Medicine and teaching hospital. That approval sparked months of behind-the-scenes negotiations between the Ondo State Government, FUTA management, and the Federal Ministry of Education.
Now that the State Executive Council has finalised the decision, the focus will shift to implementation. Key steps include:
- Legal Formalisation: The transfer of titles, rights, and management responsibilities must be properly documented to avoid disputes in the future.
- Facility Upgrade: Some parts of the Akure hospital complex require modernisation to meet federal standards. Upgrades in equipment, ICT infrastructure, and laboratory technology are expected in the coming months.
- Capacity Building: Existing staff will need retraining to align with FUTA’s new operational model. This ensures they can adapt to the academic and service expectations of a federal teaching hospital.
- Community Engagement: Patients and local residents must be reassured that services will not be disrupted. The transition is expected to be phased to minimise interruptions in ongoing treatments.
Looking Ahead: A Win-Win for Ondo and Nigeria
Observers have hailed the development as a win-win arrangement. For Ondo State, the move relieves the financial burden of running a teaching hospital while ensuring that its citizens continue to enjoy healthcare services—now backed by federal funding. For FUTA, it provides the much-needed infrastructure to launch its College of Medicine on a solid foundation. For Nigeria at large, it adds another hub for training doctors and conducting research in an era when the nation desperately needs more medical professionals.
Stakeholders—from FUTA’s academic staff to community leaders in Akure—believe the long-term benefits will outweigh the short-term adjustments. FUTA students will no longer need to travel outside Akure for clinical training. Patients in Ondo State will have access to improved services. And the nation will see an expansion in healthcare capacity at a time when it is most needed.
As Dr. Ajaka put it: “This is not just about a hospital changing ownership. It is about reshaping the future of healthcare and medical education in Ondo State and Nigeria at large.”
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