Lagos State has created more than 10,000 skilled healthcare jobs and expanded its network to more than 2,500 health facilities as part of efforts to strengthen employment and improve access to quality medical services.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed the figures on Thursday at the Academy of Medical Sciences’ maiden biennial presidential colloquium, held at the Old Great Hall of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi-Araba.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Olajide Dayo, the governor said the recruitment drive was designed to bridge manpower gaps and build a healthcare system capable of responding to current and future challenges.
“We are building strong emergency response, effective healthcare financing, and a capable, motivated workforce,” Dayo said.
The colloquium, themed “Nigeria’s Health at a Crossroad: Confronting Workforce Shortages, Epidemic Risks, and Maternal Mortality,” brought together experts in obstetrics, health economics, community health, and public health to examine solutions to Nigeria’s healthcare challenges.
Speaking on workforce development, the governor said retaining healthcare personnel remained essential to improving service delivery.
He added that epidemic preparedness would depend on effective disease surveillance, modern laboratories, reliable data systems, and a well-trained workforce.
Health experts at the colloquium commended Lagos State for investing in both healthcare jobs and infrastructure, noting that a larger, motivated workforce is critical to reducing maternal mortality and responding effectively to disease outbreaks.
The governor said the state was positioning its healthcare sector for sustainable growth while creating thousands of direct employment opportunities for doctors, nurses, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals.
