President Bola Tinubu has given his approval for the conversion of the Federal College of Dental Technology and Therapy in Enugu into a fully-fledged University of Allied Health Sciences. This decision reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening the healthcare and social welfare sectors by investing in human resources.

Ajuri Ngelale, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, stated that the renaming of the institution as the Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Enugu, will now place it under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

The announcement comes at a crucial time when President Tinubu, serving as the African Union Champion for Human Resources for Health, aims to train 120,000 frontline healthcare workers nationwide within a span of 16 months. Additionally, his plans include doubling the number of primary health facilities in local communities across all local government areas from the current 8,800 to over 17,000 in the next three years.

The Presidency anticipates that this decision will result in a significant increase in the number of healthcare professionals graduating from accredited nursing and midwifery institutions over the next three years. This expansion is intended to meet the growing demand for accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services throughout Nigeria.