Thomas Adewumi University Begins Construction of Teaching Hospital in Kwara, Targets Completion in 18 Months

Thomas Adewumi University (TAU), Omu-Aran, Kwara State, has commenced the development of its teaching hospital following a foundation-laying ceremony held on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

The project, known as Thomas Adewumi University Teaching Hospital (TAUTH), involves the transformation and upgrading of the former General Hospital in Omu-Aran into a tertiary healthcare facility to support medical education, clinical training, research and specialised healthcare delivery.

The ceremony attracted the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Elder Kayode Alabi, who represented Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, alongside government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, healthcare professionals, academics and other dignitaries.

Speaking at the event, Governor AbdulRazaq described the project as a significant development for Kwara South, noting that the establishment of a teaching hospital in the region would improve access to specialised medical services and reduce pressure on existing tertiary healthcare facilities in other parts of the state.

He explained that the initiative, being implemented through a strategic partnership between the Kwara State Government and Thomas Adewumi University, would strengthen medical education, improve healthcare manpower development and bring quality medical services closer to residents.

The governor also commended the university's Founder and Chancellor, Engr. Dr. Johnson Bamidele Adewumi, for the initiative and urged residents of Omu-Aran and neighbouring communities to support the project.

In his remarks, Dr. Adewumi explained that the decision to transform the existing General Hospital into a teaching hospital was informed by the need to expand access to specialised healthcare and provide adequate clinical training facilities for medical students and other healthcare professionals.

He disclosed that the former General Hospital, established on February 1, 1973, under the administration of the late General David Bamigboye, offered an opportunity for the development of a tertiary healthcare institution without starting an entirely new facility.

The Founder and Chancellor clarified that the arrangement was structured as a public-private partnership and did not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of the hospital.

Under the approved framework, ownership of the facility remains with the Kwara State Government, while Thomas Adewumi University is responsible for constructing and developing the necessary academic infrastructure.

Dr. Adewumi, however, appealed to the state government to provide additional financial support for extensive infrastructure upgrades and the recruitment of specialist medical consultants, noting that establishing and operating a teaching hospital requires substantial financial and technical resources.

He further disclosed that the project has an estimated completion period of 18 months, with a technical planning committee led by Professor Kuranga, a former Chief Medical Director of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, working alongside 17 other professors.

The university has also undertaken rehabilitation and development works at the former General Hospital since April 2025. These include the renovation of operating theatres, procurement and upgrading of medical equipment, restructuring of wards and administrative offices, and construction of a new administrative building.

The completed facility is expected to expand access to specialised healthcare, strengthen clinical training for medical students, create employment opportunities and stimulate economic activities in Omu-Aran and surrounding communities.

The development is also expected to position Kwara South as an emerging centre for medical education and tertiary healthcare delivery.

The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Ahmed El-Imam; former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Shuaib Oba Abdulraheem; the Olupo of Ajase-Ipo, Oba Ismail Yahya Alebiosu; and the Olomu of Omu-Aran, Oba Raheem Adeoti.

Other attendees included the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Salihu Yakubu Danladi, and the Kwara South Senatorial candidate, Prince Lekan Adewoye.

The project represents a major development in the collaboration between the Kwara State Government and private educational institutions to expand healthcare infrastructure and strengthen medical training across the state.