By Thompson Yamput
The Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) in Anyigba has resumed its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme after a decade-long suspension.
This is contained in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abdulazeez Adams, on Thursday in Lokoja.
The resumption, he said, followed the National Universities Commission (NUC’s) approval and grant of full re-accreditation for the university’s MBBS) programme after carrying out thorough accreditation exercise of some of its programmes.
Adams described the NUC approval as a landmark achievement driven by Gov. Ahmed Ododo’s commitment to revitalising healthcare and medical education in the state.
” 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programme was originally accredited and commenced in 2012 at the then Kogi State University, but the accreditation was withdrawn in 2015 after a resource verification exercise by the NUC revealed the absence of key infrastructure and academic requirements.
“Consequently, the administration of former Gov. Yahaya Bello, upon assuming office in 2016, swiftly intervened by approving full scholarships and facilitating the transfer of affected third-year medical students to other institutions.
“Over 90 per cent of those students have successfully graduated,” Adams said.
The commissioner said since then the government began fixing the necessary facilities including the construction of a state-of-the-art clinical complex at the university now completed and in use.
“In addition, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Marietu Tenuche, was mandated to commence all basic sciences and allied health programmes required to support a robust MBBS curriculum—an instruction that has since been carried out.
“Also, Gov Ododo upon assuming office in 2024, directed a fresh review of the requirements for restoring the MBBS programme and gave immediate approval for the provision of outstanding facilities.
“These include 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,” Adams stated.
He stressed that based on 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, he said, the commission has now granted approval for the full re-establishment of the MBBS programme at the university.
“This is a major milestone—ten years after the initial withdrawal—and it signals a new era of medical training in Kogi state.”
Adams described the development as part of 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.
“Gov. Ododo’s commitment to healthcare is not in words, but in action, considering these projects, which are not just about infrastructure but the future of healthcare delivery in Kogi, ” he said.
He commended all stakeholders who contributed to the success of the initiative, and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to completing all ongoing infrastructure projects supporting the MBBS programme. NAN
