PRESS RELEASE 

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has taken a significant step toward advancing medical education and research through a proposed strategic collaboration with the School of Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC).

This initiative was announced during an official visit led by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, to BUC on April 15, 2026. The Vice-Chancellor was accompanied by key members of the University’s leadership, including the Registrar, Dr. Rebecca Aimiohu Okojie; the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Professor Mike Ogirima, mni; and the immediate past Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olayemi Akinwumi.

The FUL delegation was received by Professor Ahmed Makhlouf, Dean of the School of Medicine at Badr University, a distinguished scholar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a leading figure in medical education reform in Upper Egypt.

Speaking during the visit, Professor Ibileye emphasized the University’s commitment to building a world-class College of Health Sciences and the importance of international collaboration in achieving this goal.

Established in 2011, Federal University Lokoja has rapidly evolved into a multi-faculty institution with 42 fully accredited programmes as of 2024. Its College of Health Sciences (FULCOHS), located at the Adankolo Campus, is anchored by a Federal Teaching Hospital upgraded in 2023, providing a robust clinical training environment comparable to Nigeria’s leading medical schools.

The University’s MBBS programme, approved by both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), successfully completed a full MDCN accreditation in January 2026, formally positioning FUL among Nigeria’s recognized medical training institutions. In addition to Medicine, the College offers accredited programmes in Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, and Pharmacy (Pharm.D.).

Highlighting the urgent need for healthcare professionals, the Vice-Chancellor noted Nigeria’s current doctor-to-patient ratio of approximately 1:4,000—significantly below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of 1:1,000—with even wider gaps in Kogi State.

To address these challenges, FULCOHS is seeking structured collaboration with BUC’s School of Medicine in several key areas, including:

1. Strengthening Basic Medical Sciences such as Human Physiology, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Molecular Genetics
2. Joint programmes in Laboratory Medicine, including Pathology, Haematology, Microbiology, Virology, and Clinical Pharmacology
3. Student exchange through supervised elective clinical attachments
4. Collaboration in simulation-based training, clinical skills development, and telemedicine
5. Faculty exchange programmes to address staffing gaps and promote academic development
6. Joint postgraduate research, publications, and conference participation

Professor Ibileye described FULCOHS as “a college in formation,” emphasizing that early institutional decisions would shape its trajectory for decades. He noted that partnering with a reputable institution like BUC would ensure that these foundational choices are guided by global best practices.

He further stressed that Nigeria requires not just more doctors, but highly competent, compassionate, and community-oriented professionals. According to him, a formal partnership between the two institutions would significantly accelerate this mission while strengthening ties within the African higher education community.

The visit concluded with both institutions expressing openness to deeper engagement and future collaboration. See more pictures here

Signed:
Dr Tósìn Ọlágúnjú 
Director, Directorate of Strategic Communication and Corporate Documentation
Federal University Lokoja