The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has granted final full accreditation to Osun State University, allowing the institution to graduate medical students from its College of Medicine.
The development was announced during a visit by the council’s Registrar, Fatimah Kyari, and members of the accreditation team to the Osun State Government House in Osogbo. Reacting to the news, Ademola Adeleke, Governor of Osun State, welcomed the approval and pledged continued support for the university to strengthen its academic standards.
In a statement issued by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, Adeleke described the accreditation as a significant milestone for the state-owned institution.
Speaking earlier during the visit, Prof. Kyari, represented by the council’s Deputy Registrar, Nnaemeka Nwakanma, commended the governor for providing the equipment and facilities needed for the successful accreditation of the university’s College of Medicine within seven years.
Nwakanma noted that the governor’s administration had made remarkable progress in improving the institution within three years, culminating in the council’s approval.
“This team has just approved and granted final full accreditation to the medical school. It didn’t come easy,” he said.
He added that since its establishment in 1963, the council had maintained strict standards in regulating the training of medical professionals capable of competing globally.
Explaining how admission quotas are determined, Nwakanma said several factors are considered, including the availability of manpower, quality of facilities, laboratories, and hospital infrastructure used for training.
He pointed out that universities such as University of Lagos currently have an admission quota of 150 medical students, while University of Ibadan, the country’s oldest university, has a quota capacity of 180 though it admits about 120 students.
According to him, the council has now placed UNIOSUN on the same training capacity level as some of Nigeria’s leading universities with an admission quota of 150 medical students.
Responding, Governor Adeleke expressed delight at the council’s decision and assured the delegation that his administration would continue to invest in the institution.
He also disclosed plans to double the university’s admission capacity for medicine and related programmes before the next accreditation exercise.
The governor further lamented the growing brain drain in the country, popularly referred to as the “Japa syndrome,” saying the lack of a conducive working environment has pushed many Nigerian medical professionals abroad.
“When you go to the biggest hospitals in the UK, America and elsewhere in Europe, Nigerians are among the best professionals there. It is largely because of the working conditions at home. We must work together to reverse the trend,” Adeleke said.
Meanwhile, the university has continued to expand its medical training facilities, including the establishment of the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital in Osogbo.
The facility was donated by businesswoman and philanthropist Folorunso Alakija and formally handed over to the university’s management.
According to the university’s Public Relations Officer, Ademola Adesoji, the handover ceremony took place at Famfa Towers in Ikoyi, Lagos, during a visit by the university’s leadership team.
The delegation was led by the Pro-Chancellor, Wale Oladipo, and the Vice-Chancellor, Clement Adebooye.
Representing the donor family at the event, Dele Alakija, Managing Director of Famfa Oil, thanked God for the successful completion of the project and praised the university for its commitment to improving healthcare delivery and medical education in Nigeria.
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