UNIOSUN medical school accreditation approved by MDCN, allowing Osun State University to graduate medical students and expand training capacity

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has granted Osun State University, Osogbo (UNIOSUN) final full accreditation to graduate medical students, marking a major milestone in the institution’s medical training programme.

Also read: UNIOSUN celebrates 15th Convocation with 49 First-Class grads

The announcement was conveyed during a visit by the Registrar of the council, Prof. Fatimah Kyari, represented by the Deputy Registrar, Dr Nnaemeka Nwakanma, and members of the accreditation team to the Osun State Government House in Osogbo.

Reacting to the development, Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, welcomed the approval and pledged continued support for the university to achieve higher standards of academic excellence.

The governor’s remarks were contained in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, on Saturday.

Speaking during the visit, Dr Nwakanma commended Adeleke for providing the infrastructure and equipment required for the UNIOSUN medical school accreditation, noting that the achievement was reached within seven years of establishing the College of Medicine.

“This team has just approved and granted final full accreditation to the medical school. It didn’t come easy,” Nwakanma said.

He added that the MDCN, since its establishment in 1963, has maintained strict standards in regulating the training of medical professionals capable of competing globally.

According to him, the council has also approved an admission quota of 150 medical students for the university, placing UNIOSUN on par with leading Nigerian institutions such as the University of Lagos.

He explained that admission quotas are determined by factors including the availability of qualified personnel, laboratory facilities, teaching hospitals, and the overall capacity of the institution to train medical students effectively.

“In a bid to encourage Your Excellency because of your huge investment in tertiary education, especially the medical college, MDCN has not only granted final full accreditation for the College of Medicine in UNIOSUN but has also placed the university at par with the training capacity of the University of Lagos and other major universities,” he said.

Responding, Adeleke expressed delight at the development and assured the council that his administration would continue to invest in the university’s growth.

The governor added that the admission capacity for medicine and related courses could double before the next accreditation exercise.

Adeleke also lamented the growing brain drain among Nigerian medical professionals, often described as the “Japa syndrome,” attributing it largely to inadequate working conditions in the country.

“When you go to the biggest hospitals in the UK, America and elsewhere in Europe, Nigerians are the best hands you will find there, and it is because there is no conducive working environment for them in Nigeria. But we must work together to reverse the trend,” he said.

UNIOSUN has expanded its medical training infrastructure in recent years, including the establishment of the Modupe and Folorunso Alakija Medical Research and Training Hospital in Osogbo.

The hospital was donated by businesswoman and philanthropist Mrs 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, where the institution’s leadership signed the transfer documents.

The delegation from UNIOSUN was led by the Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Wale Oladipo, and the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Clement Adebooye, while Mr Dele Alakija, Managing Director of Famfa Oil, represented the donor family during the signing ceremony.

Also read: Osun University Demands Apology Over “Ghost Workers” Audit

Stakeholders described the accreditation as a significant boost to medical education in Osun State and a step towards strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.