Ishowo Urges Kwara to Convert KWASUED to Medical Varsity to Address Shortage of Medical Doctors

Public Affairs Analyst Ishowo Olanrewaju has urged the Kwara State government to transform the newly formed Kwara State University of Education (KWASUED) into a specialized medical university. This recommendation comes in response to the persistent shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals in state hospitals. Ishowo pointed to successful examples of medical universities in Bayelsa, Enugu, and Ondo states as evidence that such institutions can effectively address healthcare workforce shortages.

He expressed deep concern over the current state of medical personnel in Kwara, noting that the existing doctors were already overburdened by the number of patients they must attend to daily. Ishowo argued that the state government should have prioritized the establishment of a medical university over a university of education, given that Kwara's primary challenge lies in the severe lack of healthcare professionals rather than educators.

Existing universities in Kwara, such as the University of Ilorin, Kwara State University (KWASU), and Al-Hikmah University, already offer faculties of education that produce graduates annually, while several public and private colleges of education across the state train teachers. Ishowo believes that the creation of a specialized medical university would provide a steady supply of doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals to meet the state's needs and contribute to the healthcare system of other regions in the country.

To ensure the benefits of this proposed medical university are not lost to other states, Ishowo suggested offering scholarships to Kwara natives who study medicine and other health-related courses, with the stipulation that graduates must work in the state for a five-year period after graduation to repay their scholarships. This approach would help retain locally trained medical professionals and strengthen Kwara's healthcare system.

Several state governments across Nigeria have recognized the importance of dedicated medical universities in addressing their own healthcare workforce shortages, such as the Lagos State government's plans to establish a medical university. Ishowo emphasizes that the conversion of KWASUED into a specialized medical university would directly address a crisis that is costing Kwarans their health and lives.