Some months after the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi provided all logistics for the accreditation of courses at State Tertiary institutions, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) have given final full accreditation to the College of Medicine, Ekiti State University (EKSU). In a statement by the College’s Provost, Prof Kehinde Oluwadiya, the MDCN granted the MBBS full accreditation for five years. According to him, the full accreditation permits the College to hold its final year examination for the first time in three years.
Between 2011 and 2014, the Fayemi-led administration released a capital grant of N400m (N100m of this was meant for the upgrade of College Medicine to facilitate its accreditation) to the University which made the construction of the buildings possible. This was the first time in the history of the University that the state government would release a capital grant. Similarly, subvention of the institution was increased from N210 million to N260 million. Many state-of-the-art buildings were constructed in the University including; the Biochemistry/Pharmacology building, the Medical Library building, the Clinical Students’ hostel, Physiology Department and Anatomy Department building, 1,050-seater lecture theatre and a twin auditorium.
As at 2014, out of the 67 academic programmes being run by Ekiti State University, 63 were accredited, while four including those of the College of Medicine, were yet to be visited for accreditation though the courses in the College of Medicine had the approval of the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and Nigerian Medical Council (NMC). However, the final accreditation process recommenced late last year when Governor Fayemi revived support for EKSU College of Medicine through financial and technical interventions including prompt payment of subventions. He also presented a 22-seater bus to the College in March 2019, as part of steps to ensure that it gets full accreditation for its MBBS programme.
Governor Fayemi has promised to retain graduates of Ekiti State University College of Medicine willing to work in the state-owned health facilities. The Governor assured the members of MDCN that his administration would ensure further improvement on the facilities at the college to allow it graduate more than the approved 50 students.
Governor Fayemi has been working to build structures and provide incentives that will attract medical graduates. The Governor sees Functional Education as absolutely vital to the economic, social and political progress of Ekiti State. This is why he is working to reposition EKSU to nurture a new generation of elite in our dear state, who will confront our developmental challenges squarely with new ways and means.
Last modified: June 19, 2019
