FIC REPORT (LAGOS STATE) – Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has pledged to deepen his administration’s partnership with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) ahead of the proposed Orange Economy Summit, using the occasion to reveal that the state is weighing a fourth university dedicated to medical sciences.
He made this known at the Lagos House, Marina, on Tuesday when the Governor received the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof Ayo Omotayo, and the institute’s leadership on a courtesy visit. Sanwo-Olu told his guests that Lagos was committed to strengthening its relationship with the institute, particularly in policy development, strategic engagement and capacity building.
Turning to his administration’s record on education and human development, the Governor said two new state-owned universities had been established in addition to Lagos State University, which was founded about 40 years ago. Lagos, he disclosed, is now considering a fourth institution devoted to medical sciences, a move he said was aimed at easing the shortage of qualified medical personnel across the country. The proposed university would complement the state’s existing tertiary institutions, he explained, noting that rising demand for medical professionals called for long-term investment in medical education.
Sanwo-Olu pointed to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) as proof of the pressure on the system, saying the hospital continues to draw patients from across the country on the strength of its capacity, personnel and quality of care. “LASUTH today is the foremost tertiary health facility that we have in the country. In terms of the number of personnel, patients they see and qualified professionals and practitioners, LASUTH is number one today,” he said. The demand, he added, can be punishing. “People come from different parts of the country as early as 5am just to receive tertiary healthcare. There is a lot of pressure, but we will continue to do our best,” the Governor said.
Earlier, Prof Omotayo explained the purpose of the visit, telling the Governor that NIPSS was seeking Lagos’s partnership for the proposed Orange Economy Summit, which he described as the first of its kind in Nigeria. He said the collaboration would promote the cultural and creative economy and position Lagos as a key participant in the Orange Economy agenda, adding that the institute wanted a stronger and more permanent working relationship with the state government.
The NIPSS leader also extended an invitation to Sanwo-Olu to deliver a lecture at the institute’s campus, saying the engagement would let participants learn from the Governor’s experience in governance.
Anaeto, Minaye O.
Assistant Director
04 / 11 /2026 .
