FUHSO Addresses Student Protest, Reveals Full Story on MBBS Accreditation Progress

FUHSO Management Addresses Student Protest, Reveals Full Story on MBBS Accreditation Progress.

The Management of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo (FUHSO) has taken note of reports circulating in the public space concerning the recent student protest over the accreditation of the university’s Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) programme. In the interest of fairness, transparency, and public accountability, the Management considers it necessary to address these reports directly, correct misconceptions, and present a factual account of the efforts undertaken to resolve a crisis that predates the current administration.

From the outset, the Management wishes to make it clear that it does not regard the protesting students as adversaries. They are the very reason this institution exists. Their frustration is understood, acknowledged, and shared. However, the narrative currently in circulation is incomplete, and an incomplete narrative does a disservice not only to this administration, but also to the students whose interests it seeks to defend. The public deserves the full picture.

I. THE REALITY THIS ADMINISTRATION INHERITED

No honest discussion of the current accreditation situation can proceed without a clear understanding of the state of affairs before the assumption of office of the current Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francis Aba Uba, on 13 May 2025.

In the four years preceding this administration, the MBBS programme had not received a single Resource Verification or Advisory Visit from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN). The statutory fees required to initiate the accreditation process had not been paid, and there was no active or substantive engagement with the MDCN regarding accreditation.

As a result, pioneer medical students admitted in 2020 and 2021 experienced prolonged academic uncertainty, with some sent home for extended periods without a clear pathway toward resolution.

Critical infrastructure required for MDCN accreditation was either inadequate or entirely absent. The Multi-User Laboratory in the Teaching Hospital — a mandatory requirement — had been abandoned by its contractor for over two years. The Autopsy Centre did not exist. The morgue was in severe disrepair, while both the Anatomy and Human Physiology Laboratories fell below MDCN standards.

These facts must be clearly understood. The accreditation challenges confronting FUHSO today did not originate with the current administration. They are the consequence of years of accumulated deficiencies and delayed institutional action.

II. WHAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS ACHIEVED IN TWELVE MONTHS

Upon assumption of office, the Vice-Chancellor — a distinguished surgeon with extensive experience participating in MDCN accreditation exercises across Nigeria — identified the MBBS accreditation as the university’s most urgent institutional priority.

The statutory accreditation fees were promptly paid, and formal engagement with the MDCN commenced immediately. A comprehensive gap analysis was conducted in line with MDCN standards, followed by the implementation of a structured remediation plan.

The abandoned Multi-User Laboratory project was revived after the formal disengagement of the original contractor and subsequent re-award of the contract. The facility is now nearing completion.

In addition:

The Anatomy Laboratory has been expanded.

The Human Physiology Laboratory has been upgraded.

Construction of the Autopsy Centre is actively ongoing.

The morgue is being comprehensively rebuilt and modernized.

The Management also considers it important to state that, at critical moments when institutional funding could not meet the urgency of the situation, the Vice-Chancellor and members of the principal officer team committed personal resources toward the reconstruction of the morgue. This reflects a level of sacrifice and commitment that goes beyond administrative obligation.

Furthermore:

A bus for the Department of Community Medicine — specifically required by the MDCN — has been procured.

Suitable hostel accommodation close to the Teaching Hospital has been secured for pioneer students.

Targeted recruitment has addressed key staffing gaps identified under MDCN requirements.

Pioneer students previously sent home have been recalled.

Lectures and practical sessions are currently ongoing.

These interventions were achieved within twelve months, addressing deficiencies that had accumulated over several years.

III. THE CRITICAL FACT: THE MDCN VISIT IS SCHEDULED FOR 21 MAY 2026

The Management wishes to clearly state that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) accreditation visit to the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo is officially scheduled for 21 May 2026 — two days from the date of this statement.

This is not speculation or mere reassurance. It is a confirmed visit by the statutory regulatory body whose approval is critical to the academic progression of FUHSO medical students.

This visit represents the outcome of twelve months of intensive, deliberate, and sustained work by the current administration.

The Vice-Chancellor has repeatedly stated that securing this accreditation has remained his foremost institutional concern since assuming office. The effort invested reflects a deep personal and professional commitment to resolving a crisis inherited from previous years.

IV. TO THE STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC

The Management welcomes scrutiny and public accountability. Public institutions must remain open to legitimate questions and concerns. However, such scrutiny must be informed by complete facts.

To the 300-level MBBS students of Streams A and B, and indeed all students in the FUHSO medical programme: this administration sees your concerns, understands your anxieties, and remains fully committed to ensuring that your academic aspirations are not jeopardized.

To parents and guardians whose confidence may have been shaken by recent developments: your children remain under the care of a management that has demonstrated, through measurable actions, its commitment to their academic future. The scheduled MDCN visit itself is evidence of that commitment.

To members of the media and the wider Nigerian public: the Management welcomes continued public interest in this matter and only asks that the full story be told in its entirety.

V. CONCLUSION

The Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo now stands two days away from the accreditation visit its medical students have long awaited and deserved.

This milestone has not been achieved by chance or by the mere passage of time. It is the result of twelve months of determined, strategic, and sacrificial work by an administration committed to correcting inherited deficiencies and restoring confidence in the institution’s medical programme.

The Management remains steadfast in its commitment to securing the accreditation and ensuring that FUHSO fulfills its mandate of delivering quality medical education.

Mr. Sunday A. Igah

Head, Information, Public Relations and Protocol Unit
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo

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