By John Dike, Osogbo
Governor Ademola Adeleke has commended the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) for granting full and final accreditation to the medical programme of Osun State University.
He gave the commendation while hosting the council’s accreditation team at the Government House in Osogbo
MDCN Registrar, Fatimah Kyari, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar, Nnaemeka Nwakanma, announced that the council had granted full and final accreditation to the College of Medicine of the university, enabling it to graduate medical students.
Nwakanma commended Governor Adeleke for providing the necessary infrastructure and facilities that led to the accreditation within seven years of the programme’s commencement, describing the achievement as remarkable.
According to him, the council does not compromise its standards in regulating the training of medical professionals since its establishment in 1963.
He explained that the admission quota granted to medical schools is determined by factors such as available manpower, facilities, laboratories and the quality of teaching hospitals.
Nwakanma disclosed that the council has approved an admission quota of 150 medical students for the institution, placing UNIOSUN on the same capacity level as leading universities such as University of Lagos, Obafemi Awolowo University and Ahmadu Bello University.
The MDCN team also expressed satisfaction with the new ultra-modern teaching hospital donated to the state by the Folorunso Alakija family, noting that the facility contributed significantly to the council’s decision.
In his response, Governor Adeleke expressed appreciation to the accreditation team and pledged that his administration would continue to invest in the development of the university.
He also promised to work towards doubling the admission capacity for medicine and related courses before the next accreditation exercise.
The governor further decried the poor working conditions in Nigeria’s health sector which, according to him, have contributed to the migration of skilled professionals abroad, popularly referred to as the “japa syndrome”.
He stressed that improving facilities and working environments in the country’s institutions would help reverse the trend and restore Nigeria’s reputation in the global medical field.
Governor Adeleke assured the management of UNIOSUN of the state government’s continued support to strengthen the university and reposition tertiary education in Osun State.
