From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The University of Abuja (UniAbuja), on Saturday, June 21, announced that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved an increase in the admission quota for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme of the university from 75 to 200.
UniAbuja spokesman, Dr Habib Yakoob, in a statement, noted that the decision was the outcome of a rigorous and objective re-accreditation exercise conducted by a team of 17 MDCN members at the university.
MDCN Registrar, Prof. Fatima Kyari, commended the university management for the continuous improvement in all the requirements, resulting in the additional opportunity to admit more students.
She, however, highlighted the need for further development in key areas, including the number and capacity of resource persons, pathology labs, transportation, and clinical skills support.
Kyari further explained: “When we talk about quota, we are referring to the resource-based carrying capacity. In this case, the members of the re-accreditation team are carefully selected professionals, and their assessments were objective, thorough, and constructive.
“Now, let me put it in the right perspective: for a quota of 150, you need 450 bed spaces for clinical students, and UniAbuja currently has 360. For 200, you need 600 bed spaces. But we want to align with your growth aspirations. The nation needs more doctors. Abuja is the centre; it should rise to the occasion. So, we are giving you 200.”
She stressed that MDCN would maintain a strong monitoring presence to ensure continued compliance and would support the university’s efforts in building capacity and infrastructure.
“We are not just here to point out what you have or what is lacking. We are here to encourage the university to keep working towards meeting all requirements.”
The MDCN Registrar added that the quota upgrade aligned with the federal government’s broader goal of expanding access to medical education and addressing the national shortage of doctors.
She stated: “The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, has laid out a bold four-point agenda under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
“At the heart of this is the need to strengthen our healthcare workforce, from training to retention, as the engine for achieving universal health coverage and improved health outcomes for all Nigerians.
“Our task was guided by existing standards, including infrastructure adequacy, faculty strength, student-to-resource ratio, clinical training exposure, and the overall governance structure of the medical school.
“We also recognise the presidential vision and the current national imperative to scale up training in response to health workforce shortages, but this must be done in a manner that safeguards patient safety and professional competence.”
The Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Patricia Manko Lar, expressed appreciation to the MDCN for the re-accreditation exercise.
Lar said: “The joy we feel regarding this announcement is boundless. We opened all our doors during this period with no cover-up. We did our best. But the constructive feedback from the MDCN will push us to aim even higher.
“We have been working tirelessly to grow this university and ensure our College of Health Sciences meets global standards. I am proud to be leading the university at this critical moment. Considering the fact that I have a short time to run the affairs of the school, I am confident that a solid foundation has been laid, and progress will continue.”