By Steven Atokolo
The Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo has restored the healthcare and medical programmes at the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba in Kogi State after 10 years suspension.
The restoration was contained in a letter issued by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Friday which indicated the granting of full re-accreditation for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme at the PAAU, Anyigba, after a 10-year suspension of the programme by former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello.
The Commissioner for Health Kogi State, Dr Abndulazeez Adams confirmed the development at a press briefing on Thursday in Lokoja, stressing that the approval was a landmark achievement of Governor Ododo.
The Commissioner said, “the MBBS programme was originally accredited and commenced in 2012 at the then Kogi State University, but the accreditation was withdrawn in 2015 after a resource verification exercise by the NUC revealed the absence of key infrastructure and academic requirements”.
He said when the faculty was de-accredited, Yahaya Bello approved full scholarships and facilitated the transfer of affected third-year medical students to other institutions; adding that “today, over 90% of those students have successfully graduated”.
The Commissioner for health revealed that the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Marietu Tenuche, has been given a marching order by the state government to commence all basic sciences and allied health programmes required to support a robust MBBS curriculum—an instruction that has since been carried out.
“Upon assuming office in 2024, Governor Ododo directed a fresh review of the requirements for restoring the MBBS programme and gave immediate approval for the provision of outstanding facilities. These included a multi-purpose medical students’ teaching laboratory, lecture halls, a library, consultant offices, and student hostels.
“These projects received prompt approval from His Excellency, and I personally represented him at the official handing-over of project sites to contractors”, Dr. Adams stated, noting that construction work began immediately and is now at an advanced stage.
“Following the infrastructural and academic upgrades, the university invited the NUC for a fresh round of resource verification. Based on the successful outcome of the exercise, the commission has now granted approval for the full re-establishment of the MBBS programme at the university in Anyigba.
According to the commissioner, the development is part of Governor Ododo’s holistic strategy to expand the state’s healthcare workforce. He highlighted other strategic investments in medical and health education across the state, including the College of Nursing in Obangede, the College of Health Sciences in Idah, the College of Medical Sciences at CUSTECH, Osara, and now, the fully restored College of Medical Sciences at PAAU, Anyigba.
