By Rotimi Odofin
Kogi State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the healthcare system across all levels, with a long-term vision of positioning the state as a hub for the training of medical doctors and other healthcare professionals for Nigeria.
The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has continued to prioritise the revitalisation and upgrading of healthcare institutions across the state, from Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) to tertiary health facilities, with the aim of providing quality, accessible and efficient healthcare services to the people of Kogi State and neighbouring communities.
The commitment was reiterated on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, during an interactive session between the Kogi State Ministry of Health and a delegation from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, which visited the state to assess the level of preparedness for the accreditation of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residency Training Programme at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
The delegation was received by the Coordinating Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Maji Enoch.
Speaking during the visit, the Executive Director of the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Muazu Omeiza Musa, said the state remained committed to ensuring quality healthcare service delivery across the state.
Dr. Musa said the government’s efforts to revitalise more than 200 PHCs across the state were informed by the need to strengthen healthcare delivery, noting that residents of neighbouring states also access services at some of Kogi’s healthcare facilities.
He said Governor Ododo had demonstrated strong commitment to upgrading tertiary health institutions in the state to the required standards, with the ultimate objective of gradually producing medical doctors and other health professionals who would serve not only Kogi State but the country at large.
According to him, the state government is committed to providing all the requirements necessary for the successful accreditation and commencement of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residency Training Programme at the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja.
He assured the delegation that any identified gaps would be promptly addressed by the government to facilitate the accreditation process.
In his welcome remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Maji Enoch, who spoke on behalf of the Coordinating Commissioner, expressed the ministry’s readiness to do everything necessary to secure approval for the residency training programme.
He said the initiative was in line with the vision of the Ododo administration to strengthen the state’s medical institutions and increase the number of highly trained medical doctors produced through Kogi’s healthcare institutions.
Mr. Enoch expressed confidence that the accreditation exercise would be hitch-free, assuring the delegation that the Kogi State Specialist Hospital was prepared to meet the required standards.
Also speaking, the Chief Medical Director of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Dr. Seyi Folagbade, expressed delight that the hospital was being considered as a strategic training facility for the commencement of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residency Training Programme.
He assured the delegation of the hospital’s commitment to ensuring the smooth commencement and effective operation of the programme once accreditation is granted.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Professor Ayodeji Oluwole, explained that the team was in Kogi State to assess the level of preparedness of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital with a view to determining its suitability for accreditation to commence the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Residency Training Programme.
Professor Oluwole commended the state government and the Ministry of Health for the warm reception accorded the delegation.
He clarified that the assessment was not a fault-finding exercise but an opportunity to guide the state on areas requiring attention to enable it achieve its objective of establishing the residency training programme.
He assured the state government that the delegation would provide the necessary recommendations to support the hospital in meeting the requirements for accreditation.
The proposed residency programme is expected to further strengthen specialist medical training in Kogi State, enhance the capacity of healthcare professionals and contribute to the state’s long-term vision of becoming a major centre for medical education, training and quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
