Ekiti State Government has re-affirmed its commitment to ensuring full accreditation of the Ekiti State University College of Medicine, to allow students admitted in the college 10 years ago to graduate without further delay.

Governor Fayemi made this known while hosting members of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria who were in the state to inspect facilities at the College as part of the process for its final accreditation.

Fayemi said he was optimistic that with the efforts of the state government and the University towards ensuring improved facilities, the college would get the final nod of the council and would be able to graduate its first set of medical doctors.

He said, “This is something that is long overdue as you can see that ten years is a long time and for these students to have been in school waiting to have this over with.

“Let’s hope that by the time you finish this accreditation they won’t have any reason not to receive positive nod from you that will not allow them to become properly recognised medical doctors.

“For us it’s been a long journey, it is unfortunate, but I must really thank all of our professionals in charge, they all contributed in their own way to bring us to this point. I believe the students would give a good account of themselves, I met a few of them in the course of their professional studies and I think they are eager to complete this process.

“I believe on our part we would do everything to ensure that we support the university and the college of medicine to achieve the purpose.”

The governor described the situation as shameful saying it wrong for any government to have delayed accreditation for so long while putting the career of the students in jeopardy, adding that many universities that does not have the number of professionals as the Ekiti State University were turning our their students regularly.

“I was speaking to one of our icons this morning, Chief Afe Babalola, and he briefed me about the open heart surgery done by ABUAD Teaching Hospital.

“My mind went to our own students. If ABUAD is already doing open heart surgery, we really need to do more to put the EKSU College of Medicine in its place of pride and I believe we are determined to do that, I will continue to support to the best of our ability.”

Dr Fayemi assured the Council that his administration would ensure further improvement on the facilities at the college to allow it graduate more than the approved fifty students, adding that government would wish to retain as many as would want to stay back and work in Ekiti among them when they graduate, because they are already conversant with the various challenges of the people of the state.

“Of course, we want them to be more than fifty to be graduated and we would want to even retain them in Ekiti. We still do not have enough and if we must really successfully undertake our universal basic health programme then, we need to tap more of our medical officers in the place.

“And as you say, Sir, if they stay within the state they will add more value because they understand the state, they know the challenges our people have and they will do a lot better job in the state,” he said.

Earlier, the Registrar, Dr T.A.B. Sanusi, who led the 14- member Council, appreciated the efforts of the state government towards ensuring final accreditation of the college stressing the importance of adhering to and maintaining minimal standard for setting up medical school.

Dr Sanusi lamented the delay which made the students to spend about ten years when most of their colleagues in other courses and institutions might have completed their Doctorate.

He explained that the council is a regulatory body that must ensure that minimum standard is maintained because it has the responsibility to ensure that the health of the people is not put in jeopardy.

News Express reports that Governor Fayemi had earlier in the year presented a coaster bus to the college and released funds for the upgrade of some facilities needed to get the final accreditation.

•Photo shows, L-R: Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji; Registrar Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. T.A.B. Sanusi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Acting Vice-Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Prof. Olubunmin Ajayi; and Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr. Foluso Daramola, during the visit of the Accreditation Team from the MDCN to the governor in his office in Ado-Ekiti.

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