by Babajide Fadoju

For far too long, the healthcare sector in Kwara State suffered from the neglect and mismanagement of past administrations. Up until the most recent tenure, the state’s medical training system was left to rot. Facilities deteriorated, accreditation was lost, and young people who aspired to become healthcare professionals were left stranded. It was a damning legacy of abandonment that forced many Kwarans to seek training opportunities elsewhere, draining the state of potential and talent.

That dark era has finally ended.

Under the leadership of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kwara State has reclaimed its place as a serious player in the healthcare sector. The recent approval by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to allow Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, and General Hospital, Offa, to train nursing interns is nothing short of a landmark achievement. For the first time, Kwara will be able to groom its own nurses rather than watching them leave for other states in search of training opportunities. This is not just about infrastructure; this is about restoring dignity to a profession that had been disregarded by previous administrations.

A Legacy of Neglect

Let’s be clear: the decay did not happen overnight. The previous political leaders had nearly two decades to build a robust healthcare training system, but they failed spectacularly. Instead of investing in critical manpower development, they focused on politics of patronage, leaving the healthcare sector in shambles. Nursing schools struggled for accreditation, hospitals lacked the personnel to provide quality care, and patients bore the brunt of a failed system.

The absence of proper training institutions meant that Kwara had to rely heavily on importing medical personnel from other states. The result? A fragile, unsustainable system that left communities vulnerable. It was an avoidable crisis, but past leaders simply didn’t care enough to fix it.

A New Dawn Under AbdulRazaq

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s administration has rewritten the script. Unlike his predecessors, he recognizes that investing in healthcare is not just about building hospitals—it’s about ensuring those hospitals are staffed with well-trained professionals.

His administration’s efforts in securing accreditation for the training of both pharmacy and nursing interns speak volumes. For the first time, Kwara’s young, aspiring nurses have a homegrown path to professional excellence. This means better healthcare services, reduced brain drain, and greater employment opportunities within the state.

And it doesn’t stop at nursing. Governor AbdulRazaq has prioritized the overall revitalization of the health sector, from equipping hospitals to improving staff welfare. The government has been intentional about fixing dilapidated health centers, upgrading medical equipment, and recruiting more healthcare workers. This is governance that works. This is leadership that cares.

What This Means for Kwara’s Future

The implications of this achievement cannot be overstated. With an expanded capacity to train nurses and other medical professionals, Kwara is positioning itself as a healthcare hub in Nigeria. In the coming years, we can expect:

● Improved healthcare delivery: More trained nurses mean better patient care across the state.

● Job creation: Young people who previously had to leave for other states can now build their careers right here at home.

● Economic growth: A well-functioning healthcare sector attracts investment and boosts the local economy.

● A healthier population: With better-trained personnel, health outcomes will improve, saving lives and reducing preventable deaths.

The Future is Bright

Governor AbdulRazaq is proving, time and again, that good governance is about making real changes that impact lives. The accreditation of Kwara’s hospitals for nursing internships is not just another policy move; it is a bold step toward securing the state’s future.

Kwara’s healthcare sector is on the rise, and for the first time in decades, we can say with confidence that the future looks promising. The failures of the past are being corrected, and under AbdulRazaq’s leadership, Kwara is finally getting the healthcare system it deserves.

…As Nursing & Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) approves training

The Kwara State Government has secured the approval of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to commence the training of graduate intern nurses in Kwara State for the first time in the history of the State.

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, disclosed this today during the Board’s management meeting, where he announced that Sobi Specialist Hospital, Ilorin, and General Hospital, Offa, will serve as the pioneer hospitals for the internship training.

According to Dr. Malik, “This is yet another great step in the right direction by the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq towards laying a solid academic foundation that will last a lifetime in our health sector, closing manpower gaps, and sustaining the improvements we have achieved over the years in our healthcare service delivery.”

He emphasized that the initiative underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring that the health of Kwara residents remains a top priority.

“This trust reposed on us by the regulatory body will not be taken for granted, and all preconditions that got us here today will be sustained. If you recall, we recently secured a similar approval from the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to start training graduate pharmacist interns,” Dr. Malik affirmed.

The Executive Secretary further urged all stakeholders in the health sector to work together to ensure that healthcare services in the state are delivered professionally and in line with global best practices.

“Kwara State has now joined the league of states in the country that train intern pharmacists and nurses. The management of the Hospital Management Board is actively working on securing accreditation to add Medical Laboratory Scientists to the State’s internship training program,” he added.

In her remarks, the Director of Nursing Services (DNS), Mrs. Oyewole Risikat, urged prospective graduate nurses to take full advantage of the opportunity, stressing that significant resources have been invested in healthcare training in Kwara State to enable them to compete favorably with their counterparts globally.

Also speaking, the Director of Medical Services and Training, Dr. Femi Joseph, commended the Kwara State government and the leadership of the Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdulraheem Malik, for driving the initiative and strengthening the state’s healthcare system.

With this development, Kwara State further cements its position as a forward-thinking state committed to human capital development, particularly in the critical sector of healthcare.