By Josephine Oguntoyinbo

Stakeholders in the health sector have expressed optimism that the proposed amendment bill to establish the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, will enhance the institution’s status and functionality once enacted into law.

The stakeholders shared their views during a public hearing on the bill at the Ondo State House of Assembly in Akure.

The proposed legislation seeks to provide for the establishment, incorporation, constitution, and functions of UNIMED.

The hearing drew medical experts from across the state and members of the public, who contributed to discussions and submitted memos regarding the bill.

Declaring the hearing open, the Speaker of the Assembly, Chief Olamide Oladiji, stated that the exercise was in line with constitutional provisions to amend and review laws.

He emphasised the importance of stakeholder input in the process.

“As you are all aware, the University already has an existing law concerning the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences. The exercise is to review and amend. What we need from stakeholders are their contributions, support, and cooperation for a robust law.

“We don’t want a situation where students graduate and their results become useless. Our target is that after this change of name, the committee will critically evaluate your contributions and ideas, collate them, and come up with a strong recommendation before the bill is passed into law.

“Once legally changed to the University of Medical Sciences, the institution will increase student admissions and enhance its image,” Oladiji remarked.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, Chris Aiyebusiwa, affirmed that the committee had thoroughly examined the bill in light of the government’s and the institution’s current concerns, visions, and aspirations.

He, however, noted that the bill’s sensitive nature necessitated input from well-meaning stakeholders to produce an amended law that would stand the test of time.

He urged all stakeholders to collaborate in upholding best practices.

The Vice-Chancellor of UNIMED, Professor Adesegun Fatusi, highlighted the primary reason for the proposed amendment: the need for the university’s name to be legally recognised as the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED).

“If you go to the JAMB website or NYSC portal, you will not find the University of Medical Sciences listed because the legal document that established it referred to it as the Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, called OSUMS at that point.

“Now, ten years into our history, it has become crucial to legally establish the name as UNIMED. Some of our graduates face challenges presenting their certificates abroad, as the name does not appear on the JAMB website.

“This is why we have been pushing for a law to formally amend the name for JAMB recognition and to review other provisions of the law for minor adjustments,” he explained.