The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance at the 2025 Scientific Conference and Induction Ceremony of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Nigeria (AMSN), held over the weekend in Lagos.
Fifteen distinguished professors across various medical fields were inducted as Fellows of the Academy during the event. The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu—represented by the Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi—was also named Patron of the Academy, while Dr Alausa received an Honorary Fellowship.
Alausa described uninterrupted academic calendars as critical to national development. He expressed concern over the over 54 months of cumulative strike actions recorded by ASUU in its history, noting that such disruptions are detrimental to the country’s progress.
According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to ensuring stability across the education sector as part of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
“In the history of ASUU since it came into existence, the union has been on strike for about 54 months. That’s not an enviable record any nation wants to have. The President does not want to witness a situation again where students are kept at home when they should be in school learning,” he said.
He highlighted several ongoing intervention efforts, including the Students’ Loan Scheme, the repositioning of TETFund, and the proposed Education Research Fund, which are aimed at enhancing quality teaching, research outcomes, and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates.
Alausa emphasized the President’s dedication to human capital development and assured continuous engagement with university unions to prevent future disruptions.
The minister praised AMSN’s founders and members for their contributions to medical advancements and national growth, pledging strengthened collaboration between the academy and the Federal Ministry of Education. He called on the new Fellows to intensify research and innovation for societal benefit.
Meanwhile, Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Prof Abayomi, commended the academy for promoting excellence in medical research and mentorship. He reiterated Lagos State’s commitment to expanding access to quality health care through hospital upgrades, improved cancer care, and the Lagos Health Insurance Scheme.
Earlier in his remarks, the President of the Academy, Emeritus Prof Osato Giwa-Osagie, highlighted the institution’s role in strengthening medical science and promoting national health and welfare. With the induction of the new Fellows, membership of the six-year-old academy has now exceeded 100.
