The Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM) is set for a significant upgrade, following the approval of several expansion and renovation projects by Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. These initiatives, part of a phased development plan for the institution, aim to enhance medical education and healthcare delivery across Lagos State.
The approved projects include renovations of the Histology/Anatomy Laboratories in Ikeja and the transformation of the CACOVID Centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, and the Cardo-Renal Centre in Gbagada into annexes for LASUCOM. These projects will be overseen by the Lagos State Infrastructure Asset Management Agency (LASIAMA) and are a crucial part of the College’s long-term development strategy.
On Wednesday, 26th and Thursday, 27th March 2025, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, along with the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Mr. Tolani Sule, visited the project sites. During the visits, they explored the facilities alongside LASUCOM Executives and key stakeholders, engaging with contractors and discussing the commencement of the project.
Prof. Abayomi highlighted the importance of these projects, describing them as a “crucial step” in expanding LASUCOM and addressing the growing shortage of healthcare professionals in the state. Phase 1 of the expansion is expected to be completed within four months, paving the way for the establishment of new annexes for the college.
Echoing this sentiment, Mr. Tolani Sule emphasized that the initiative would strengthen the state’s healthcare system. “This project is about a greater Lagos rising,” he said. “By expanding the workforce in the health sector, we are securing the future of healthcare delivery in our state.”
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibiyemi Ibilola Olatunji-Bello has expressed excitement over the development, noting that key accrediting bodies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC), the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), are set to begin accreditation visits within the next year.
Prof. Olufemi Idowu, the Provost of LASUCOM, thanked Governor Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering commitment to the advancement of medical education and healthcare infrastructure. He described the approval of the projects as “wonderful news” and assured that the faculty and staff of the college were thrilled by the prospect of the improvements.
The expansion and renovation efforts are seen as part of the government’s larger plan to tackle the shortage of human resources in the state’s health sector, while also enhancing LASUCOM’s capacity to offer world-class medical training and research opportunities.
Ms. Adenike Adekanbi, the General Manager of LASIAMA, reassured stakeholders of the agency’s commitment to delivering high-quality work within the specified timeframe. “We’ve worked at this site before and understand the landscape. With the support of LASUCOM, we are confident we can meet the four-month deadline,” she said.
The visit concluded with a symbolic ceremony at the Cardo-Renal Centre in Gbagada, where contractors formally signed the agreements and took possession of the project sites, signaling the transition from planning to implementation.
