Cosmopolitan University signs MoU with health ministry to boost medical training

Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the federal ministry of health to enhance medical education and training.

The agreement, signed on Thursday, will allow the university’s students to undergo clinical training at the National Hospital, Abuja.

Muhammad Ali Pate, the coordinating minister for health and social welfare, said the move is to address workforce shortages in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Pate said the partnership would strengthen the country’s medical workforce and help mitigate the impact of healthcare professionals leaving Nigeria for opportunities abroad.

He said the government looks to expand training so that even if some professionals left, others would remain while those abroad might even return to serve.

The coordinating minister assured that the expansion would not compromise professional standards, as regulatory bodies would oversee compliance.

“If we weren’t training them, they wouldn’t be attractive to other countries. But because Nigerian health workers are well-trained, people come to take them. Unfortunately, that affects service delivery here at home,” Pate said.

“The ministry and regulatory boards are working to ensure that standards are maintained while we expand capacity in both the public and private sectors.”

Mani Ibrahim Ahmed, the registrar of Cosmopolitan University, described the MoU as a significant step forward.

He highlighted that the university selected the National Hospital for its clinical training due to its high patient volume and diverse medical services.

He revealed that the partnership is expected to expand further, with discussions underway to collaborate on a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme.

“The chief medical director mentioned that this is just the beginning. We are looking at also collaborating with them to start the MBBS programme, which will allow us to train medical doctors as well as other health professionals,” Mani said.

He noted that the university’s proximity to the National Hospital made the partnership a natural fit and expressed optimism about its future benefits.

Muhammad Raji Mahmud, the chief medical director of the national hospital, welcomed the collaboration.

He stated that it would provide extensive training opportunities for Cosmopolitan University’s medical students and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s medical workforce.