Navigating Challenges Of Young University: Hillside Seeks Clinical Training Partnership With Fethi

The management of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, FETHI, led by the Chief Medical Director, CMD, Prof. Kolawole Ogundipe, on Wednesday received the management of Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi-Ekiti, on a courtesy and partnership visit aimed at strengthening medical education and clinical training.

The delegation, led by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Iheanyichukwu Okoro, sought collaboration with FETHI to provide clinical training opportunities for the institution's students in nursing and allied health disciplines, particularly in Pathology, Pharmacology, Public Health, and other clinical sciences.

Congratulating Prof. Ogundipe on his appointment as Chief Medical Director, Prof. Okoro described him as a seasoned healthcare administrator whose remarkable achievements as Chief Executive of several health institutions have earned him sustained recognition and greater responsibilities.

"The reward for hard work and excellent performance is more work," he remarked, noting that Prof. Ogundipe's track record of excellence informed his latest appointment.

Describing FETHI as a giant in medical education and healthcare delivery, the Vice-Chancellor said the three-year-old university was seeking to leverage the hospital's wealth of experience in training healthcare professionals.

According to him, the institution deliberately chose FETHI because of its longstanding reputation for excellence in medical education, clinical practice, and its successful training of students from several institutions within and outside Ekiti State.

Prof. Okoro disclosed that Hillside University recently secured full accreditation for its Nursing programme and that the relevant regulatory body requires evidence of an established clinical training arrangement for students after their pre-clinical studies. He explained that this requirement necessitated the university's visit to FETHI to explore collaboration in the areas of Basic Clinical Sciences and School of Sciences.

He further stated that the university also intends to renew its existing relationship with FETHI on clinical postings for its nursing students.

Describing FETHI as a stable and highly reputable institution, the Vice-Chancellor expressed the university's desire to formalize the proposed collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU.

In his response, the Chief Medical Director welcomed the delegation and appreciated the university's confidence in FETHI.

He noted that the hospital has sustained a successful partnership with Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, since 2014 for the training of medical students, adding that seven sets of medical doctors have successfully graduated through the collaboration. He also revealed that in 2025, FETHI was approved as the teaching hospital for the College of Nursing of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, FUOYE.

Prof. Ogundipe, however, lamented the impact of the "Japa" phenomenon on Nigeria's healthcare system, describing the migration of medical professionals as a major challenge despite the increasing production of healthcare graduates.

According to him, more than half of newly trained medical doctors leave the country in search of better opportunities abroad, resulting in severe manpower shortages across health institutions. He observed that residency positions, which previously attracted surplus applications, now remain vacant despite repeated advertisements.

While expressing the hospital's willingness to support the proposed partnership, the CMD explained that the level of faculty engagement would depend on the availability and willingness of individual consultants, especially in view of FETHI's existing commitments to ABUAD and FUOYE.

He assured the delegation that the hospital's management would consult relevant faculty members regarding their participation and would also present the matter at the Ekiti State Committee of Chief Medical Directors to explore additional support where necessary.

Prof. Ogundipe further assured that management would work out the operational requirements and logistics for the proposed collaboration, including accommodation needs for additional personnel where applicable, and seek the necessary approvals from the appropriate authorities to formalize the partnership.

Delivering the vote of thanks on behalf of the hospital, the Physician-in-Charge of the Igogo Annex of the hospital, Dr. Kayode Ariyibi, commended the leadership of Hillside University for choosing FETHI as its preferred partner in clinical training.

He expressed optimism that the engagement would yield positive outcomes and wished both institutions a productive and enduring partnership that would contribute significantly to the training of competent healthcare professionals for Nigeria.

The meeting was attended by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, CMAC, Dr. Olabisi Adeyemo; the Director of Administration, represented by the Deputy Director of Administration, General Duties, Mr. Abayomi Adeakin; the Chief of Staff to the CMD, Dr. Kamal Alabi; the Deputy Director of Protocol, Mr. Isaac Anifowose; Assistant Director of Information, Mr. Kunle Adeboyejo; the Head of Administrative Staff, CMD's Office, Mr. Babatope Ajimati; and several consultant specialists from various departments of the hospital.

Members of the Hillside University delegation included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babafemi Adebesin; the Registrar, Dr. Mercy Lyons; the Head of the Department of Nursing, Dr. Beatrice Segun-Agboola; the Clinical Instructor, Mrs. Ajiboye Adetoun; the Dean of Students' Affairs and Director of Works, Venerable Jibiya Jibrin; and the Acting Medical Director of the University Health Centre, Dr. Kayode Ariyibi.