The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has urged vice-chancellors of universities in the country to introduce specialised degree programmes to address manpower shortages in healthcare and social services.
Alausa made the call in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Ikharo Attah, issued in Abuja on Sunday.
The minister particularly urged the universities to establish programmes in audiology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, clinical psychology and medical social work.
According to him, the programmes, if established, will address shortage of specialists in the areas and create more employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
“Expanding training in these fields will help bridge gaps in specialised healthcare and social services while creating more career opportunities for young Nigerians,” he said.
The minister urged the vice-chancellors to work with the Ministerial Committee Chairman for the Advancement of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy, Dr Victoria Amu, to establish the proposed programmes.
Alausa also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to establishing autism centres across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
He said the centres would improve access to specialised care and support for persons on the autism spectrum and their families.
According to him, the centres would support diagnosis, therapeutic services and research, while serving as hubs for families, healthcare professionals and educational institutions.
He also called for collaboration with relevant regulatory agencies and professional bodies to ensure that the programmes met academic and professional standards.
The minister added that the initiatives were aimed at addressing manpower gaps, improving service delivery and making Nigeria’s higher education system more responsive to national needs
He said the Federal Government would continue to implement reforms to expand access to relevant education and promote skills development in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. (NAN)
