In a bold step towards strengthening Nigeria’s health workforce, the Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Achievers University, Owo, and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Owo, to expand clinical training opportunities for medical, nursing, and allied health students.
The agreement, formalized at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare headquarters in Abuja, grants the privately owned Achievers University access to FMC Owo’s facilities for hands-on clinical training. This strategic collaboration is designed to bridge Nigeria’s acute shortage of healthcare professionals by leveraging public-private partnerships.
The initiative is aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda, which prioritises innovative models to close the human resource gap in the healthcare sector.
Speaking during the MoU signing ceremony, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the partnership as both “timely and strategic.”
“This MoU exemplifies Mr. President’s vision to harness private sector capacity in addressing human resource gaps in our health sector,” Salako said.
He emphasised the urgent need to scale up training opportunities to address the escalating emigration of Nigerian health workers, which continues to strain the country’s fragile health system.
“We must act now. The Federal Government is also exploring frameworks where destination countries benefiting from our trained professionals can contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s health system,” Salako added.
The collaboration is expected to strengthen the practical training pipeline for Achievers University students in medicine, nursing, medical laboratory science, and other health-related disciplines. By using FMC Owo’s infrastructure and patient base, students will gain crucial real-world experience, improving their clinical competence and job readiness.
The partnership also demonstrates growing recognition that private universities can play a vital role in national development when effectively integrated into public systems.
Representatives from Achievers University and FMC Owo present at the ceremony expressed commitment to ensuring the smooth implementation of the MoU, with joint monitoring teams to evaluate student progress and institutional compliance.
The MoU reflects a wider policy shift under the Renewed Hope Health Agenda to embrace collaborative, cross-sector solutions in addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges—from workforce shortages and training deficits to infrastructure gaps.
With this agreement, the Federal Government signals a commitment not just to expanding numbers, but to improving the quality and accessibility of clinical training in Nigeria’s health education ecosystem.