Lagos is expanding the pipeline of nurses it hopes will power the state’s healthcare system—and a new hostel is now part of that plan.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has commissioned an ultra-modern hostel at the Lagos State College of Nursing (LASCON), Igando, describing the project as an investment in healthcare manpower, student welfare and human capital development.
The facility, commissioned on Friday, can accommodate more than 250 students and comes with training and registration facilities, solar power infrastructure and 24-hour CCTV surveillance.
More Than Accommodation
Speaking at the commissioning, Sanwo-Olu said the project was designed to provide more than a place for students to live.
According to him, quality infrastructure is essential to creating an environment where future healthcare professionals can receive effective training and develop the skills needed to serve Lagos’ growing population.
He urged LASCON management, lecturers and students to take ownership of the facility and ensure it is properly maintained.
The governor also pledged continued government support for the institution, saying additional projects were being pursued as part of efforts to further develop LASCON.
LASCON Could Move Towards a Bachelor’s Degree
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that work was ongoing to position the college to eventually award a full bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
He also announced that the state was pursuing approval for a University of Medical Sciences.
The proposed institution, he said, would broaden Lagos’ ability to train doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals at a time when skilled manpower remains a major concern across the healthcare sector.
Why Nurses Matter
The governor described nurses as an indispensable part of the healthcare system, stressing that their expertise and dedication are central to meeting the needs of Lagos residents.
The latest investment in LASCON therefore comes against a wider push to strengthen the state’s health workforce—not just by building healthcare facilities, but by expanding the institutions responsible for training the people who will staff them.
Commissioner Praises Education Investment
Lagos Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Tolani Sule, commended the administration for its continued investment in education infrastructure.
Sule described the hostel as an important addition that would help create a more conducive learning environment and support the development of young people preparing for careers in nursing.
He said the project reflected the government’s broader focus on equipping students with the skills, professionalism and character needed to contribute meaningfully to society.
LASCON Wants More Capacity
The Provost of LASCON, Dr Ayodeji Ogunmuyiwa, thanked the state government for its investment in the college and highlighted the institution’s recent progress.
She said the new hostel would allow LASCON to accommodate and train more nurses as Lagos and Nigeria continue to grapple with healthcare workforce shortages.
Ogunmuyiwa also pointed to several recent achievements at the college, including:
- 100 per cent success in professional examinations
- An upgraded Information and Communication Technology centre
- A modern Computer-Based Test centre for digital examinations
- Expanded infrastructure to support nursing education
However, she appealed for additional government backing to help the college expand further and play a bigger role in developing Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
Building the Healthcare Workforce
The new hostel is ultimately part of a bigger equation.
More training capacity means more nurses. More skilled nurses mean greater capacity to serve patients.
By linking investments in education infrastructure with healthcare workforce development, the Lagos State Government says it is laying the foundation for a stronger health system—one student and one trained professional at a time.
