Get Guardian on GoogleThe Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate has reaffirmed the Federal Government support for all stakeholders in the Nigerian health sector.
Professor Pate gave the assurance while delivery his keynote address during the Association Of Medical Laboratory scientists Of Nigeria 61st Annual Scientific Conference and Workshop, theme: “From Microscope To Metaverse”: Advancing Medical Laboratory Science Through Digital Transformation, Data Integration and Artificial intelligence for Sustainable Global Health Innovation, taking place in Minna, Niger State capital.
The Minister who was represented by the Medical Director, Federal Medical Center Bida, Doctor Abubakar Usman, while congratulating the association for hosting their important annual conference, noted that the federal government recognized the vital contributions of medical laboratory scientists to healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Professor Ali further stressed that federal government effective treatment relies heavily on quality, timeless, and accurate laboratory results.
He maintained that the Medical Laboratory Council of Nigeria was identified as the vital regulatory body responsible for ensuring that only qualify members are permitted to practice within the sector.
The Minister promised that the Federal Government would fostering collaboration between all health practitioners and specialists, support continuous professional development through annual conferences, ensuring that accuracy remains the central priority for all medical laboratory scientists to improve overall health care delivery.
He urged members of the association to prioritize accuracy and timeless in their professional practice.
The National President, Association Of Medical Laboratory scientists Of Nigeria, Dr. Casmir Ifeanyi, said since 7th February, 2026, the association has worked to turn unity into action, saying that it has re-established a working relationship with the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria and welcome the appointment of its substantive Registrar/CEO.
Dr. Ifeanyi stated that the association stood publicly on grounds of patient safety, against legislative proposals that threatened the independence of the profession, and called for transparent release of health funds.
According to him, at our National Executive Council meeting in Enugu, we placed before the Federal Government the MLS programme, a Consultant Cadre, inclusion of Medical Laboratory Services in the minimum package for health, and reconstitution of Health Regulatory Boards, and welcome the Senate’s passage of the bill for a Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, and will continue to appeal for presidential assent, adding that the association also promoted ISO 15189-2022 and called for investment in medical laboratory infrastructure, workforce, and local diagnostic production,” he noted.
The Chairman of the occasion, Former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muaazu Babangida Aliyu, described the Association Of Medical Laboratory scientists as the backbone of health sector.
In Dr. Babangida’s words, “No health system can consistently deliver services to the public without effective medical laboratory scientists,” he emphasised.
He applauded the leadership of the association for successfully hosting the annual conference.
Earlier, Niger State Governor, Muhammad Umaru Bago represented by the Head of Service, Sadiq Abubakar, asserted that medical laboratory scientists are identified as central figures who provide scientific evidence to support clinical decisions and public health intervention.
He lauded the conference theme, pointing out that digital innovation are expected to improve diagnostic accuracy, accelerate clinical decision making and strengthen disease governance.
