The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria has granted approval to the Kwara State University Teaching Hospital as a training centre for Kwara State University’s preclinical medical programme.
The approval was made known in a statement released on Wednesday by the Head of Corporate Affairs at KWASUTH, Yakub Kamaldeen Aliagan, following a successful accreditation exercise carried out by the MDCN.
Announcing the development, the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Aminat El Imam, said the decision followed a detailed presentation made to the MDCN accreditation team led by its Deputy Registrar, Nnaemeka Nwakama.
“This approval marks a significant milestone in the advancement of healthcare and medical education in Kwara State,” El Imam said.
The briefing session took place at the MBA Study Centre of Kwara State University on Ajase-Ipo Road in Ilorin, where stakeholders highlighted the preparedness of both institutions for the programme.
“Both the Teaching Hospital and the University’s preclinical programme have now received official accreditation,” she added.
The commissioner praised the MDCN team for what she described as their professionalism and integrity throughout the process, despite prevailing challenges in Nigeria’s medical education sector.
“We assure the council that all identified areas for improvement will be addressed before the next accreditation visit,” El Imam stated.
She also reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to strengthening the health sector through sustained investment in infrastructure and manpower.
“Efforts are ongoing to equip both the medical school and the Teaching Hospital with the facilities and personnel required to meet global standards,” she said.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, expressed satisfaction with the successful accreditation, describing it as a product of collaboration and diligence.
“We appreciate the MDCN team for their objectivity and assure that all recommended improvements will be implemented promptly,” Jimoh said.
Earlier, the MDCN team leader, Nwakama, commended the Kwara State Government for its investment in significant healthcare projects, particularly the upgrade of the General Hospital to a teaching hospital.
“This development will significantly enhance access to quality healthcare services in the state,” he noted.
He also acknowledged the strong collaboration between Kwara State University and KWASUTH, which he said contributed to the smooth conduct of the accreditation exercise.
“The government should sustain its focus on the health sector and address all identified gaps before the next assessment to avoid any disruption,” Nwakama advised.
With the accreditation, 300-level students of Medicine and Surgery at Kwara State University can now proceed to clinical training at KWASUTH after completing the First Professional Examination.
