By Mustafa Abubakar
In its sustained effort to attenuate the effect of the ‘Japa Syndrome’ on the nation’s healthcare delivery system and enlarge admission opportunities for aspiring medical students, the Federal Government is making moves to double the university admission quotas for four medical programmes: Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing science.
This indication was revealed last Thursday (July 31, 2025) when a high-powered Ministerial Committee from the Federal Ministry of Education visited the University of Ilorin to assess the institution’s preparedness to expand its Medical programmes in line with the Federal Government’s renewed commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare manpower, which has been seriously depleted by emigration of medical professionals, popularly known as the ‘Japa syndrome’.
The Ministerial Committee, led by its Chairman, Prof. B. S. Alabi, was constituted under the auspices of The Federal Ministry of Education Special High Impact Intervention by TETFUND.
Welcoming the Committee members to the University, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, pledged that any approvals or funds granted would be used judiciously.
Prof. Fawole said, “On behalf of the Vice Chancellor, we thank you for your visit and trust. We assure you that whatever you give us will be put to good use.”
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Alabi, explained that the visit is part of an initiative by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Maruf Alausa, to double the quota for the four programmes.
He recalled that the government resolved to address the country’s shortage of trained medical professionals by increasing the quota for MBBS and related programmes, disclosing that 18 medical colleges were selected in the six geopolitical zones of the country, (three) per zone.
Outlining the Committee’s guidelines, Prof. Alabi stressed that the expansion must cover proper sharing and accessibility of facilities such as lecture halls, laboratories, and equipment for the four programmes.
Also speaking, a member of the team, who is also the Director of SPD of TETFund, Arch. Erivwo, and the Deputy Director, Mrs Saadat Jimoh, listed the terms of reference of the Ministerial Committee.
While making his presentation, the Acting Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. M. S. Ajao, said, “The College, which was initially established as a Faculty in 1977, became a full-fledged College in 2004. It now comprises the Faculties of Basic Medical Sciences, Basic Clinical Sciences, and Clinical Sciences, with 23 academic Departments, the COBES Unit, a Clinical Skills Simulation Laboratory, a Molecular Laboratory, and the Institute of Medical Research and Training (IMRAT).”
Prof. Ajao disclosed that the College now has over 4,800 students across its Old and New Sites, which are about 10 minutes apart, with the Administrative Block located at the New Site.
“Of the University’s four health-related programmes, three – Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing — are in the College”, he disclosed.
The Ag. Provost added that “to meet national targets, the College plans to increase its admission quota for Medicine from 150 to 300, Nursing from 100 to 200, and Pharmacy from 120 to 240 with Dentistry due to commence this year.”
Prof. Ajao highlighted the need for expanded lecture theatres, demonstration labs, a new animal house, and more human resources to support this growth.
He detailed existing infrastructure, saying, “ Block A and Block B each seat 300 students in the new College site Lecture Rooms One and Two seat 150 students each; another hall seats 300 at the old College site and a TETFund-supported building adds another 300 seats, and smaller lecture rooms in Nursing and the Administrative Block provide additional capacity.”
On laboratories, Prof. Ajao noted that the Gross Anatomy Laboratory can take about 100 students, the Digital Lab 50, while the Physiology and Medical Chemistry labs will be merged into a 120-seater multipurpose laboratory, while at Basic Clinical Science laboratory, currently seating 50–75 students, will be converted to accommodate 150 students, eliminating overlapping practical sessions.
The Ag. Provost assured the visiting team that UNILORIN will maintain all facilities properly, adding, “One thing is to build, another is to sustain. We assure you that all projects will serve the purpose for which they were intended.”
The Physical Planning Unit of the University also made presentations at the meeting, including 3D architectural design of the proposed structures as approved by TETFUND to justify the needs for the requests.
Meanwhile, the meeting announced that five new projects are lined up. Two of the projects are at the Old College site, one at the New College site, and two at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.
The visit concluded with a facility tour and a reaffirmation of UNILORIN’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to achieve its goal of producing more qualified medical professionals for the country’s growing healthcare needs.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Vice Chancellor
(Academic), Prof. Moji Taibat Bakare-Odunola; the Registrar, Mr Mansur Adeleke Alfanla; the Bursar, Mr Biodun Lawal; the University Librarian, Prof. Kamaldeen Tunde Omopupa; the Director of Works, Engr Ramoni Amoo: the Director of Physical Planning, QS Toyin Jimoh; the
Deputy Registrar, Vice Chancellor’s Office, Mrs Azeezat Ibrahim; and the University Protocol Officer, Mr Segun Alabi, among others.
