The Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) has officially inaugurated Nigeria’s first dedicated dermatology centre, a milestone expected to transform patient care, specialist training, and research in the country.
The three-storey facility, hailed as the first of its kind in West Africa, is part of LUTH’s broader campus expansion. It is designed not only to deliver specialised dermatology services but also to function as a research hub and training centre for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals.
Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, noted that while dermatology clinics exist across the country, the new centre offers a comprehensive facility with sub-specialities, allowing specialists to work comfortably and provide high-quality care. He explained that the centre is the fruition of a vision by his predecessor, Prof. Chris Bode, and expressed satisfaction in completing the project two years after commencement.
Fully funded by the Federal Government, the centre replaces outdated pre-colonial structures previously used for dermatology services.Adeyemo highlighted that the modern infrastructure is intended to attract and retain highly trained specialists in Nigeria, reducing the brain drain of medical personnel seeking opportunities abroad.
The facility also houses lecture halls, seminar rooms, and an event centre for conferences, with solar inverters and dedicated generators ensuring an uninterrupted power supply.
Delivering a special lecture at the commissioning, a consultant dermatologist at University College Hospital, Ibadan, Prof. Adebola Ogunbiyi, emphasised the importance of dermatology in improving patients’ quality of life.
She noted that skin diseases are often underestimated, yet they can significantly affect social and emotional well-being. “Skin conditions can be stigmatising. People hide themselves, change how they dress, or avoid social interactions. Many conditions are treatable if patients access the right facility,” she said.
Ogunbiyi added that the centre will allow dermatologists to practice across medical, surgical, cosmetic, and teledermatology fields, while also serving as a training hub for future specialists.
She highlighted that many Nigerians currently travel abroad for treatment of relatively simple skin conditions, a trend expected to reverse with the new centre.
She also called for public education to promote early presentation and proper treatment of skin diseases, citing conditions like leprosy and scabies that persist due to delayed care.
Emeritus Prof. Yetunde Olumide of the University of Lagos, who had worked in the previous facility, expressed joy at the commissioning. She described the development as a significant improvement over the old, decrepit structures and commended the federal government’s commitment to modernising healthcare.
Olumide underscored that the new facility will not only enhance patient care but also create an environment conducive to teaching and research, helping to retain healthcare professionals in Nigeria.
She stressed, however, that proper maintenance is critical, cautioning that constructing a building is one thing, but sustaining its functionality is another.
Olumide urged LUTH management and the dermatology department to ensure the facility remains operational and well-maintained for the benefit of patients and staff alike.
