The Management of the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has received a delegation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for the accreditation of its medical programme, Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MB;BS). 

Established in 2021 by the administration of Professor Olayemi Akinwumi and the first set of students admitted in 2022 following the Resource Assessment and approvals granted by the NUC and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the College of Health Sciences has expanded rapidly. It now boasts of different medical programmes with the pioneer students already in their 300L while the 3rd set is being admitted currently.

The team of medical experts, led by Professor Kabiru Sabitu, a renowned Public Health Physician, was received by the Vice-Chancellor along with other principal officers on Monday, 25th November 2024, before setting out for their main assignment.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi noted that even though he is a historian, his decision to establish MB;BS was informed by the difficulty faced by Kogi State indigenes in securing admission into such programmes in other Nigerian Public Universities. He also cited the dire need to raise quality manpower that would cater for the health needs of the State and develop Nigeria's health sector, and the desire to improve the ranking of the University by adding to the list of STEM programmes offered by FUL as some of the reasons.

In addition, the VC stated that the few Universities in the North Central geopolitical zone like the University of Jos and University of Illorin offering Medicine could no longer accommodate the rising population of youths and admission seekers particularly from Kogi State who want to go into the medical profession, including the mass exodus of medical professionals from the county through the "JAPA" syndrome.

The erudite professor of history maintained that he was not oblivious of the fact that the medical programme was capital-intensive, but with strong determination and commitment to his vision, his administration gave the programme the needed attention in terms of financial support and provided the necessary human and material resources for it to scale through the accreditation, saying; "what is worth doing is worth doing well.

The Vice-Chancellor told the team that the University had no Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), but when he assumed office in 2021 as the 3rd VC, he established FUL Felele Consult Ltd and the Directorate of Consultancy Services and Ventures to drive his vision of boosting the University's IGR. Professor Akinwumi said that the revenue that the business arm generated was rechanneled to developing other critical areas of the Institution and supplement Federal Government's dwindling allocation. He expressed optimism that the University would pass the accreditation because Management had put in so much efforts and resources.

Professor Akinwumi, who was elated that the medical programme has come of age, used the opportunity to thank the Federal Ministry of Health and former President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the University's request to upgrade the former Federal Medical Center Lokoja to a Teaching Hospital for the clinical training of its medical students, following several visits to the Villa and the National Assembly before the Bill was finally passed and signed into Law.

Reacting, the leader of the accreditation panel, Professor Kabiru Sabitu, thanked the University Management for the warm reception. He commended the Vice-Chancellor for his foresight and efforts at opening up the University for remarkable development within a short time, saying FUL is now a force to reckon with among comity of thriving Universities in Nigeria and Africa. 

Professor Sabitu, who described the VC as a vibrant, committed, and experienced university administrator, praised his administration for creating a dynamic learning environment filled with activities and output. He added that FUL was destined to be great and therefore lucky to have Professor Akinwumi as the Vice-Chancellor at this crucial time of its existence.

Speaking further, the team leader assured the University Management that they would carry out their assignment diligently and thoroughly within the stipulated time and visit the Teaching Hospital before submitting their findings and final report to the supervisory body, the NUC.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Mike Ogirima, mni, described the leader of the panel as a sound academic and a man of impeccable character who has contributed greatly to the medical profession and nation building.

Also, in her vote of thanks, the Registrar, Dr. Rebecca Aimiohu Okojie, conveyed Management's gratitude to members of the panel, wishing them a fruitful assignment as they appraise the University's medical programme. She invited the team to explore the unique landscape of FUL and the historic city of Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital where Rivers Niger and Benue meet. Just like the Vice-Chancellor, the Registrar also expressed optimism that the outcome of the accreditation exercise would benefit not only FUL alone but also Kogi State and Nigeria at large. See more pictures here