Former Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, has called for urgent policy reforms to revitalise Nigeria’s healthcare system, curb brain drain, and improve funding allocation to the sector.
Mimiko made the appeal on Wednesday in Ibadan during the 37th Annual General Meeting and Scientific Conference of the Committee of Directors of Health Services in Nigerian Universities (CODHESNU).
He described the ongoing migration of healthcare professionals as a major threat to Nigeria’s health sector, urging the federal government to adopt a holistic strategy to retain skilled health workers.
“The implementation of policies has been a major challenge,” he said. “We are still spending below five per cent of our national budget on health, even after the Abuja Declaration committed us to 15 per cent.”
He stressed the need for systemic interventions, including improved training, incentives for career growth, and diplomatic engagement with countries benefiting from Nigeria’s medical workforce.
According to Mimiko, the solution must include not only more funding but efficient deployment of resources to transform the system.
Also speaking at the event, Oyo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, acknowledged the crucial role of university health services in supporting academic productivity.
“University health centres were primarily established to provide comprehensive care to staff and students,” she said. “But today, they face challenges ranging from weak infrastructure and workforce shortages to limited integration with the broader national health system.”
She noted that some institutions had grown beyond basic clinics, incorporating diagnostic laboratories and referral services. However, she emphasised the need for stronger government-private sector collaboration and improved funding to boost healthcare delivery.
Ajetunmobi also urged partnerships with teaching hospitals, state systems, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to enhance the capacity and reach of university health centres.
In his remarks, Dr. Lekan Ador, Chairman of CODHESNU, described the committee as a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing among university health directors.
He listed the major challenges facing university health centres, including inadequate insurance funding, brain drain, and aging infrastructure.
Ador advocated for indemnity insurance, improved staff welfare, and a standardised career progression framework for healthcare workers. He also commended the University of Ibadan for its model health services and innovation.
Earlier, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, urged university health leaders to take collective and strategic responsibility for the well-being of academic communities.
“The quality of our health services directly impacts the vitality of our institutions,” Adebowale said. “Planning together will allow us to build a more resilient and effective healthcare system.”
The event, themed “University Health Services: Task, Present and Future,” featured the presentation of awards to several individuals, including Dr. Mimiko, Pastor Bridget Kolade, and Dr. Florence Ajimobi, wife of the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
(NAN)