The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has expressed the State Government’s readiness to strengthen collaboration with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) ahead of the proposed Orange Economy Summit.
The Governor said the Lagos State Government was committed to strengthening its relationship with NIPSS, particularly in policy development, strategic engagement and capacity building.
He gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NIPSS, Prof Ayo Omotayo, and the institute’s leadership at Lagos House, Marina, on Tuesday.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said his administration, as part of its commitment to education and human development, had established two new state-owned universities in addition to Lagos State University, which was established about 40 years ago.
He disclosed that Lagos State was considering establishing a fourth university dedicated to medical sciences to address the shortage of qualified medical personnel in the country.
Governor Sanwo-Olu said the proposed institution would complement the state’s existing tertiary institutions, noting that the increasing demand for medical professionals necessitated long-term investment in medical education.
Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) continued to attract patients from across the country because of its capacity, personnel and quality of medical services.
“LASUTH today is the foremost tertiary health facility that we have in the country. In terms of the number of personnel, patients they see and qualified professionals and practitioners, LASUTH is number one today.
“People come from different parts of the country as early as 5am just to receive tertiary healthcare. There is a lot of pressure, but we will continue to do our best,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said.
Earlier, Prof Omotayo said that the institute was seeking the Lagos State Government’s partnership for the proposed Orange Economy Summit, which he described as the first of its kind in Nigeria.
He said the collaboration would promote the cultural and creative economy and position Lagos as a key participant in the Orange Economy agenda.
Prof Omotayo said NIPSS was seeking a stronger and more permanent collaborative relationship with the Lagos State Government.
He also invited Governor Sanwo-Olu to deliver a lecture at the institute’s campus, saying the engagement would enable participants to learn from the Governor’s experience in governance.
