The Federal University Lokoja, FUL, and the Federal Teaching Hospital Lokoja, FTHL, have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in medical education and clinical training as the university moves into a new phase of its College of Health Sciences programme.

This formed the focus of a strategic visit by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, who on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, led a delegation from the university to the Teaching Hospital.

The delegation was received by the Chief Medical Director, Associate Professor Shehu Abdulrahman, alongside the Chairman Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Ebune Sunday, Acting Director of Administration, Alhaji Abdullahi Abdulrahman, and Deputy Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee, Dr. Patricia Medupine, among others.

Speaking during the visit, Professor Ibileye described the reception as an honour and appreciated the hospital management for sustaining the longstanding partnership between both institutions.

He recalled that the university began academic activities on December 3, 2012 with 11 departments and 235 pioneer students, noting that Federal University Lokoja has now expanded to 58 programmes, 17 faculties and two colleges, including the College of Health Sciences with about 30,000 students.

According to the Vice Chancellor, the university remains committed to building a centre of excellence in medical training through strong collaboration with the teaching hospital.

Professor Ibileye disclosed that the College of Health Sciences recently secured approval from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), while the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NWCN) also supported the advancement of the Nursing programme and would visit the university in few days for the accreditation exercise.

“We knew we had to climb that hallmark because the traditional advantage of having a College of Health Sciences is the partnership with the medical training centre it works with,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor stressed that as the university transitions into the clinical phase of training of its medical students, there is a need for both institutions to work more closely toward strengthening infrastructure, manpower and welfare support for both staff and students.

“I want to give assurance that we are truly committed to giving excellence, and we will do whatever it takes for this programme to be sustained, not just sustained, but sustained in excellence,” he stated.

Professor Ibileye also revealed that the university had commenced assessment of the hospital’s power requirements to attract intervention in building a solar plant as part of efforts to improve operational support for the partnership.

He further highlighted ongoing international collaborations with Badr University and Cairo University aimed at supporting simulated lectures and strengthening medical training exposure.

In his response, the CMD, Associate Prof. Abdulrahman, commended the Vice Chancellor for his commitment to developing the medical school, assuring the university of the hospital’s full support.

“For you to have undertaken to deliver on this legacy of running a medical school is not a joke. The way medicine runs is through training laboratory. You cannot produce medical doctors without a teaching hospital,” he said.

The CMD noted that clinical accreditation is gradual and specialty based, adding that the hospital was ready to guide and support the university through the process.

“This is your teaching hospital. We are already designing our expansion programmes to train undergraduate medical professionals. We are ready for you,” he stated.

He disclosed that the hospital had secured approval to recruit about 400 additional personnel to strengthen its manpower capacity ahead of the commencement of clinical training.

The Vice was accompanied by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, the Deputy Vice Chancellor Administration, Prof. Jacqueline Badaki; the Bursar, Mr. John Shilo,  Director of Legal Services, Hajiya Amina, Director of Academic Planning, Prof. Abdullahi.

Also; the Acting Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Dr. (Mrs.) Mary Alexander Onoja, College Secretary, Mr. Benjamin John Mshelbwala; the Acting Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, Dr. Omotoso Olusegun Dare; the Acting Head of Department of Human Anatom.

Others include; Dr. Fagbemi Oluwaseyi Ajibola; the Acting Head of Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. Egbagba Augustine; and the Representative Head of Department of Physiology, Mr. Jonah Achile Caleb, staff of the Directorate of Strategic Communication and Corporate Documentation, amongst other medical practitioners of the college. See more pictures here

© Directorate of Strategic Communication and Corporate Documentation
Federal University Lokoja