A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the use of Sobi Specialist Hospital Ilorin for the training of medical students of the College of Health and Allied Health Sciences of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin Kwara State was signed today at the State Ministry of Health in Ilorin.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam, signed on behalf of the State Government while the Registrar of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin Dr. K. A. Oladimeji signed for the university.
In her remarks, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ahmed El-Imam, described the occasion as the climax of months of discussions between officials of the State Government and Al-Hikmah University. She described the ceremony as a major milestone in the history of public-private partnership in Kwara State, especially in the field of education at tertiary level.
The Commissioner assured the Al-Hikmah University team that Governor AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, CON, is ever ready to collaborate with individuals and organizations both within and outside the State as long as such cooperation would bring progress and prosperity to the people of Kwara State.
In his response, the Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Al-Hikmah University, Dr. Sikiru Lanre Nurudeen, who led the University team on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Noah Yusuf, traced the history of the University from its inception in January 2005 and disclosed that Al-Hikmah University currently has seven faculties. The decision of the University to commence the medical programme, according to him, represents the contribution of the University towards improving health care delivery in Kwara State, thereby helping to reverse medical tourism in the country. The Ag. Deputy Vice-Chancellor noted that the signing of the agreement is very crucial to the success of the resource verification of the MBBS programme by the National Universities Commission.The DVC applauded the commitment of the State Governor and noted that this has contributed to the despatch with which the agreement was concluded. He therefore thanked the State Government and the relevant government agencies for their commitment in seeing to the speedy approval and the final signing of the MoU.
The Provost of Al-Hikmah University College of Health Sciences, Professor Abiodun Afolayan, while giving the vote of thanks expressed the appreciation of the Founder of the University, Chief AbdulRaheem Oladimeji, OFR and that of the Management of the University to the officials of the Ministry of Health for their diligence and attention to details in the course of the discussions that led to the conclusion of the agreement. Prof. Afolayan also gave assurance that the Medical School, when it becomes operational would be of great benefit to the generality of Kwarans. The Provost assured the Kwara State Government that the University would help in delivering qualitative health services to the teaming population of Kwara State.