Venite University and Ekiti State Specialist Hospital, Ijero-Ekiti, Hold Preliminary Meeting on Clinical Training Partnership

Venite University, in collaboration with Ekiti State Specialist Hospital, Ijero-Ekiti, held a preliminary meeting on Tuesday, 15th April 2025, to advance discussions on their proposed clinical training partnership. The meeting marks the first of its kind following the official endorsement of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the Ekiti State Government through the Ministry of Health and Human Services.

It represents a major step towards designating the hospital as the primary teaching facility for Venite University’s clinical training programmes, aimed at enhancing practical medical education and fostering stronger academic-healthcare integration in the state and beyond.

The meeting, held at the University’s Administrative Conference Hall, brought together key stakeholders from both institutions to deliberate on the implementation of the MoU. The agreement will enable medical students from Venite University’s College of Medicine to undertake supervised clinical placements at the hospital, starting tentatively in July 2025.

Present at the meeting were senior officials from both institutions, including Professor E.B. Alo, Deputy Vice Chancellor, Dr. E.A. Agbaje, Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Oye, Nursing Science, Head of Department, Professor K. Agbele, and other Faculty members. The top management staff of the State Specialist Hospital, Ijero Ekiti, include Dr.. Segun Joseph, CMD, Dr. Olubiyi Olaoluwa, and Mrs. Bodunde, Head of Nurses and the Secretary, Mr. Busayo Awobusi.

Professor E. B. Alo, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University, described the initiative as a strategic step to enhance students’ practical exposure and professional preparedness. He reiterated the University’s commitment to a quality-driven and mutually beneficial collaboration.

The proposed MoU is designed to bridge the gap between academic learning and clinical practice, granting students access to various medical units including community health, mental health, medico-surgical care and maternal and child health services.

Hon. Dapo Kolawole, Director of Strategy, Advancement, and Partnership, emphasized the importance of institutional collaborations in promoting academic excellence. He suggested establishing a Joint Technical Committee to assess the hospital’s readiness in terms of facilities, accreditation, staffing, and logistics for student supervision.

Dr. Segun Joseph, Chief Medical Director of the Specialist Hospital, presented an overview of the hospital’s infrastructure, highlighting its operational readiness, functional units, solar-supported electricity, high patient volume, and experienced team of consultants and preceptors.

Dr. Joseph further affirmed the hospital’s preparedness to integrate student training into its operations, support assessments, and align with the University’s academic framework.

Following the meeting, the visiting team from Ekiti State Specialist Hospital was taken on a guided tour of Venite University’s facilities. They expressed admiration for the institution’s impressive infrastructure, particularly the well-equipped laboratories, lecture halls, and serene academic environment, noting that the setup reflects the University’s readiness to support high-quality medical education.

The meeting concluded on a positive note, with both parties expressing strong commitment to the proposed partnership. Professor Babatope Alo, on behalf of the institution, further praised the hospital’s leadership for its collaborative spirit and reiterated the University’s dedication to partnerships that enrich academic development and strengthen community healthcare.