Overview of College of Medicine & Health Sciences
BACKGROUND HISTORY
Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, a University known for its swiftness in reforming education since inception and its doggedness to turn out professionals in all areas that could solve human problems, left no stone unturned to get the licence to field Medicine and Health Sciences, among others, in its programmes.
In the beginning, towards the consolidation of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, an Advisory Team / Medical Consultants from National Universities Commission comprising Prof. Eugene Okpere and Prof. Egri Okwaji were in Afe Babalola University on July 18-19, 2011.
Part of the activities lined up for the programme was a visit to the Federal Medical Centre, Ido, which Afe Babalola University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with, for training in clinical medicine.
At the Federal Medical Centre, the visiting team included, the Vice Chancellor, Afe Babalola University, Prof. Sidi Osho; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. M.O. Ajisafe; Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode; Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. O.O. Omotade; Director, Research and Extension, Prof. B.O Oso; Director, Medical Services, Dr. F. Jubilee and Prof. O. Akingbade, Medical Physiology Department. Others were the members of the advisory Team mentioned above. Also in attendance were Head, Clinical Services, Federal Medical Centre, Dr. L.M. Ayodele and over 30 medical doctors in various departments in the hospital.
In her speech then, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sidi Osho who led the team said that, the rationale behind the visit was totally advisory and that it was in connection to the pursuit and integration of College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Afe Babalola University.
Welcoming ABUAD officials and the advisory team on behalf of the Chief Medical Director, Federal Medical Centre, Chief (Dr.) Mrs O.O Ojo, Dr. Ayodele, said that, Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido has over 20 clinical departments with 57 fulltime consultants who are Fellows to different Medical Associations. More to that, he disclosed that FMC is accredited to teach and train Resident Doctors in Psychiatry, Family Medicine, Surgery and that FMC is also ready for Paediatrics. Dr. Ayodele stressed that Consultants in FMC are yearning for more academic environment; hence, the collaboration with ABAUD is timely. According to him, FMC has over 111 Resident Doctors, 333 Nurses, 18 Physiotherapists, 27 Pharmacists, 76 Laboratory Scientists, 10 Dental Scientists, 7 Nutritionists etc.
Subsequently, with the advisory team well-fed on the capacity of FMC, the team proceeded on a tour of various departments in the hospital. These included, Maternity Wards, Haematology & Immunology Laboratory, HIV/AIDS Laboratory, Chemical Pathology Laboratory, Medical Microbiology and Parasitology Laboratory, Blood Group Serology Laboratory, Specialist Clinic under construction, Histopathology, Mortuary, Accident and Emergency Complex, Otorhinolarynclogy, Radiology department, Mammograph, Female Surgical Ward, Pharmacy Department, Main Theatre, Mental Health Department, ECG Laboratory, Cardiac Centre, Renal Centre etc.
With all the departments well-traversed, one of the advisors, Prof. Eugene Okpere, said that he was quite impressed with what he has seen. He said FMC has all it takes to make a Medical School; that, no doubt, it would make an ideal Medical School for ABUAD. According to him, “ABUAD is a great University. If ABUAD Medical School succeeds, it means that you Consultants have succeeded”.
In his response, the Provost, College of Medicine, Prof. O.O Omotade thanked the advisory team and the Management of FMC. As said by him, he has seen some equipment in the hospital that he did not come across during his days as a student in the university.
Giving the vote of thanks, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, ABUAD, Prof. M.O. Ajisafe acknowledged everybody present; in particular, the Chief Medical Director, Chief (Dr.) O.O. Ojo and the members of the Advisory Team. He said ABUAD is a University of standard; that only the best is good for ABUAD. According to him “FMC has the standard ABUAD needs to fulfill a full-fledged Medical School”.
Subsequently, on September 14-15, 2011, a team, Resource Assessment Team, from the National Universities Commission, led by Dr. (Mrs) Modupe Adeniran, was on a two-day visit to evaluate facilities in Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti, in respect of the commencement of Medicine & Surgery, Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science and as well inspect the facilities at Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Ido Ekiti, a centre which Afe Babalola University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with as regards its medical programmes.
On Wednesday, September 14, the Resource Assessment Team began the itinerary designed for the evaluation of the College of Medicine and Health Sciences with a joint meeting with Medical Experts from ABUAD and prominent ABUAD Principal Officers. Making up the list were the Founder and President Emeritus, ABUAD, Aare Afe Babalola; Yeye Modupe Babalola; the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sidi Osho; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. M.O. Ajisafe; Prof. I.O. Orubuloye; the Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode; Bursar, Pastor Modupe Babalola; and other Academic and Non-Academic Staff.
In his welcome address at the meeting, the Founder and President Emeritus, Aare Afe Babalola spoke on the need for medicine in ABUAD. According to him, “every parent wants his child to be a professional. This is why in this year alone, we have received over 1000 applications from those who want to study law, yet we can only admit 100. We have in this place, aesthetic buildings and modern facilities to enable us teach Medicine, Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science.
Most of these facilities are wasting away. Furthermore, parents are also pleading with us on daily basis to commence these courses. It is for these reasons among others that we have applied to NUC to assess our facilities to enable us run these courses.
The Federal Government is particularly delighted to partner with Afe Babalola University in running a Medical School. Consequently, the Federal Medical Centre in Ido Ekiti which is one of the best equipped in the country has voluntarily and gladly entered into formal Memorandum of Understanding with our University”.
Aare Afe Babalola therefore urged NUC to join in the crusade to transform education in Nigeria by giving approval that would automatically qualify and certify ABUAD as agent of transformative education in Nigeria. He therefore averred that, ABUAD Medical School shall be one of the best in the world.
At the end of the resource assessment by the Team, a member of the Team, the Provost, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba said, “Words cannot praise enough what we have seen in Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti. Even the Federal Government could not have done so much within this short period of the university’s existence.”
In October, 2011, NUC issued the licence that grants ABUAD the operation of College of Medicine and Health Sciences. The first batch preclinical science students were admitted through Post UTME Screening in November, 2011.
Also, that same month, the students had their induction programme which comprised various activities that gave them background information about Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti.