Al-Hikmah University, Ilọrin and the Kwara State Government, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to use one of the state’s specialist hospitals for its MBBS programme.

The move, Daily Trust reports, will avail the university the use of Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilọrin, to run the medical programme.

The MoU was signed by the school’s registrar, Dr. Kazeem Oladimeji and the commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam.

El-Imam said the development would foster public private partnership to advance healthcare and tertiary education in the state.

• Lagos DPO slumps, dies in office
• Even if you give this govt 40 years, it’s not going anywhere – SDP’s Adebayo

Explaining further, the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Sikiru Olanrewaju Nurudeen, said the MoU was to fulfil part of the criteria by the Nigeria University Commission (NUC).

According to him, no university can commence an MBBS programme without a hospital of its own or one that it can use.

He said the result was the climax of the work the school had done on the issue in the last three months.

“NUC, our regulatory body, is expected to visit and inspect our readiness that includes human and infrastructural resources.

“We are happy to note that the Governor has graciously granted us Sobi Specialist Hospital to be used as our University Teaching Hospital pending the completion of our proposed building under construction.

“We are delighted with this partnership and fully aware of the remarkable progress the government is making in the health sector.

“We believe this MoU will further improve health outcomes across the state as the university is committed to delivering on its promises,” Nurudeen said.

He said the university has the wherewithal, human and material resources to handle the programme, when approved.

Nurudeen, who said the synergy has been described as the first of its kind in the state, added that the MoU is very timely, coming before the visit of the NUC next month.