The Vice Chancellor of Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba, Prof. Marietu Ohunene, has attributed the restoration of the university’s suspended medical programmes to the political will and financial support of the institution’s Visitor, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.

Prof. Ohunene expressed her appreciation while receiving a delegation of the Kogi State Government on a tour of projects across the state, noting that the recent accreditation of programmes in the university’s College of Medicine was made possible through the governor’s intervention.

She explained that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had suspended the medical programmes in 2021 due to inadequate facilities, including lecturers’ offices, hostels for medical students, and a lack of teaching hospitals for clinical training.

“But the good news is that, as I speak to you, our medical students will resume by next week because the governor provided all the resources required for us to run a successful medical programme,” she said.
According to her, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) recently granted approval for the university to resume its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme following a successful two-day advisory visit to the institution, after the NUC re-approved the programmes.

“With MDCN’s clearance now secured, the university has been authorised to admit its first cohort of 50 medical students for the 2025/2026 academic session, beginning in October. The successful candidates will resume classes next month,” she added.
Describing the development as a “game-changer,” Prof. Ohunene said the reinstatement of the MBBS programme marks a major victory for healthcare and medical education in Kogi State.

“This approval reactivates medical training in PAAU and reinforces the state government’s commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare education. It will strengthen our capacity to train more doctors locally, address healthcare workforce shortages, and improve overall health outcomes for the people of Kogi State,” she said.

The project inspection tour was led by the state Commissioner for Works and the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo.