The Lagos State Government has strengthened its healthcare workforce with the graduation of physician anaesthetists, nurse anaesthetists and anaesthetic technicians from the School of Anaesthetic Studies, Badagry, as part of efforts to address the shortage of specialised medical personnel.
The graduands received their diplomas at the school’s sixth graduation ceremony held at the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON), Topo, Badagry few days ago. The ceremony also marked the graduation of the institution’s first batch of anaesthetic technicians.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, represented by the Director of Medical Administration, Training and Programmes, Dr. Mazeedat Erinosho, commended the school’s management for its commitment to training skilled professionals required to improve healthcare delivery in the state.
Abayomi described the achievement as a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare development and assured that the government would continue to strengthen interventions aimed at improving the safety and quality of medical services for Lagos residents.
He urged the graduates to uphold professionalism and make meaningful contributions to healthcare delivery, describing the institution as an enduring legacy established to develop specialised medical manpower.
The Chairman of the Lagos State Health Service Commission, Dr. Olukayode Oguntimeyin, paid tribute to the school’s pioneer coordinator, the late Commodore (Dr.) Olaniyi Oladapo, whose contributions he said had left a lasting legacy in anaesthetic training and practice. He also commended the management for sustaining the institution’s achievements.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the School of Anaesthetic Studies, Badagry, Dr. Abiola Aduke Mafe, said the institution was established in 2008 to address the shortage of anaesthetic personnel by training doctors, nurses and technicians locally.
She disclosed that the school had trained 190 doctors, 179 nurses and 52 anaesthetic technicians across 18 batches of doctors, eight batches of nurses and one batch of technicians, including personnel from the Health Service Commission and external candidates.
Mafe said the latest graduating cohort comprised eight doctors, 22 nurses and 49 technicians. She also announced that the school had secured full accreditation for five years, effective April 2026, following 18 years of partial accreditation for its programmes.
She added that the nursing programme received full accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria in August 2021, while the anaesthetic technician programme commenced in 2022 with the approval of the Health Service Commission. The school is also expected to undergo reaccreditation by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria by October 2027.
According to her, the institution has continued to strengthen professional development, producing fellows, physician diplomates, nurse anaesthetists and anaesthetic technicians. She further disclosed that the nursing department operates a master’s degree programme in affiliation with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH).
In his goodwill message, the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of General Hospital, Badagry, Dr. Oluseyi Adesola, praised the school for its contribution to developing specialised anaesthetic manpower, describing its efforts as commendable within the Nigerian healthcare sector.
Similarly, the Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer of General Hospital, Lagos, Dr. Olatunde Bakare, advised graduands above the age of 40 to undergo regular eye screening, noting that good eyesight was essential for accurate and safe work in operating theatres.
The royal father of the day, White-Cap Chief Anthony Ajose, the Fihento and Regent of the Akran of Badagry Kingdom, also urged the graduates to dedicate their professional skills to serving humanity.
Other dignitaries at the ceremony included Dr. Moyosore Adejumo, Commissioner III; Mrs. Adebukola Cole, Director of Nursing Services at the Health Service Commission; members of the late Dr. Oladapo’s family; and the President of the Lagos Anaesthetics Association, Dr. Ogundare.
The graduation highlights the role of specialised training institutions in building the skilled workforce needed to improve patient safety, strengthen surgical services and expand access to quality healthcare in Lagos State.
