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The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has urged vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities to prioritise degree programmes that address critical manpower shortages and meet the growing demand for specialised healthcare and social services.
Alausa specifically called on universities to establish programmes in Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Clinical Psychology and Medical Social Work to expand the pool of qualified professionals and improve access to essential services across the country.
The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to establishing autism centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to improve access to specialised care, diagnosis, therapeutic services and support for persons on the autism spectrum and their families.
According to a statement issued by Ikharo Attah, Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Alausa said universities must align their academic offerings with national workforce requirements and emerging societal needs.
He noted that expanding training in the specialised disciplines would help bridge existing gaps in healthcare and social services while creating additional career opportunities for young Nigerians.
The minister explained that developing the programmes would strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to provide specialised services locally, reduce shortages of qualified professionals and equip graduates with the skills required for professional practice and employment.
The proposed autism centres are expected to serve as regional hubs for diagnosis, therapeutic interventions, research and collaboration among families, healthcare professionals and educational institutions.
The initiative is also aimed at improving support for persons with autism and related developmental conditions, while strengthening local expertise in specialised care and intervention.
Alausa said the Federal Government would continue to pursue reforms designed to expand access to relevant education, strengthen institutional capacity and promote skills development in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He commended the chairman of the Federal Government’s committee on the advancement of Audiology, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Therapy, Dr Victoria Amu, for her commitment and dedication to the assignment.
The minister urged vice-chancellors and other university administrators to collaborate with Amu, relevant regulatory agencies and professional bodies to facilitate the establishment of the proposed programmes.
He stressed the importance of ensuring that the courses meet appropriate academic requirements and professional standards to produce competent graduates capable of responding to the country’s specialised workforce needs.
The proposed expansion of university programmes and establishment of autism centres form part of the Federal Government’s broader human capital development efforts, which seek to strengthen service delivery, improve access to specialised services and make Nigeria’s higher education system more responsive to national priorities.
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