FUTA Addresses Student Concerns Over MBBS Accreditation Delays

The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in Ondo State has initiated new measures to obtain accreditation for its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program. This action follows rising concerns among students regarding the programme's accreditation status. FUTA's spokesperson, Adegbenro Adebanjo, confirmed these efforts in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES.

The university's administration is taking these steps due to fresh anxieties expressed by students about the medical programme. The first cohort of students for the MBBS program was admitted in 2021 and matriculated in 2022. Currently, the university has three sets of students in their 300 level. These students have been unable to advance to the fourth and fifth years because the programme has not yet received accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). Consequently, FUTA is not admitting new students to the MBBS program in the current admission cycle.

Approximately 156 students in their 300 level have reportedly been at this stage since 2024. One student, who requested anonymity, expressed frustration, stating, "For five years, we have waited, being patient, understood circumstances, even accepted an extra year, still, no accreditation. When does it end? We want to move forward. We say no to more stagnation. We demand answers and concrete plans. When is our accreditation? When are we writing our 1st MB?"

Mr. Adebanjo stated that the university's efforts to achieve full accreditation from the MDCN are in advanced stages. He indicated that all necessary prerequisites for accreditation have been met, and the institution is now awaiting the council's inspection visit to finalize the process. "On Tuesday, the major medical laboratory of the school of Health Technology will be formally opened, which is about N100 million; it has been done and is ready," he remarked. He added, "You also know that the FUTA Teaching Hospital is also up and running. On the same Tuesday, the hostel that will accommodate the students, very close to the place, will be opened. I can assure you that before the end of the month, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will come for the accreditation. This time around, we are assured that we will nip the accreditation and all things will be settled."

In October, the Ondo State Government officially transferred its state specialist hospital to FUTA as part of the efforts to secure accreditation for the programme. The hospital has undergone upgrades, with further enhancements underway to comply with the council's standards. This handover encompasses the transfer of staff, infrastructure, equipment, and liabilities. All existing staff are to be integrated into the FUTA Teaching Hospital, a federal government facility. The institution anticipates that the upgraded hospital will not only serve the FUTA Medical College but also significantly contribute to medical training and improve healthcare services within the state.