By Chris Chimezie
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Governor  Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has restated his administration’s readiness to strictly adhere to the standard rules and regulations of the National Universities Commission (NUC) towards ensuring that the state’s University of Medical Sciences becomes the best.

The Governor stated this while playing host to the 7-man NUC Accreditation Committee members who were in the state to accredit the MBBS programme of UNIMED in Ondo city.

Akeredolu who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Agboola Ajayi, stated that the state has not flouted any NUC rules, assured that the state would not approach the commission to bend its rule in favour of the institution.

“We will not beg for what is not right. We are not  proud people, but we cherish our name so much.

“We want you to do what is right for us to have a befitting citadel of learning that we will all be proud of in the end.

“One thing is certain, we are not going to compromise standard here. UNIMED has come to stay and it has promoted Ondo State more”, he said.

The Governor while stating that the university has been coping with the little resources made available to it, assured of continued government’s support for the institution in terms of structure and personnel.

“In terms of facility, we will continue to do our best and see the university as a baby we will nourish to a standard that all of us will be proud of in the future”, he said.

Earlier, leader of the NUC Accreditation Committee, Prof Edamisan Temiye had stated that the team was in the state to accredit the Medicine and Surgery programmes of the university if it had achieved the minimum academic programme given by the commission.

Describing the University of Medical Sciences as first of its kind in Nigeria, he said Ondo State government which is noted for equity, justice and fairness will never bend its rules to achieve excellence.

“I’m sure that Ondo State will not be for the basic minimum. If you are going to build a World-class Medical School, you should aim for the maximum stardand and we know that is what the state is working towards that and we are going to help you achieve that so that in the end, you will be proud of what you have.

“So far, so good, we will continue our inspection and give our verdict thereafter and we are going to be fair in whatever we do”, he stated.

He attributed the difficulty of funding a Medical School to reason why many states established the institution, but failed to achieve accreditation because of facilities and staff.

The team leader said in other disciplines, you can have one lecturer teaching 50 students, but in Medicine, it’s one lecturer to take 10 students, adding that the facilities are not recycled.

Temiye hinted that the students who are moving to the clinical stage would need many equipment in training them, saying whatever they have used in their basic medical level a year after, would have to be replaced with new sets.

He stressed the need for a perfect synergy between the Laboratory of the Medical School and the Teaching Hospital to ensure a smooth running of the university.

Also, Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Friday Okonofua hinted that the team was in the state to accredit the Institution’s Medical and Clinical Science programmes which included Medicine, Physiotherapy, Dentistry and Nursing among others.

While commending the Akeredolu-led administration for its continued support for the establishment of the university, he assured that the institution will be the best that would ever exist when the courses shall have been fully accredited.

Receiving members of the accreditation team with the Governor were; Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Ifedayo Abegunde and Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Olawunmi Ilawole.

Members of the NUC Accreditation Committee members included; Prof Bakare Girei from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Prof Adewale Musa (FMC Abeokuta), Prof Antai Atim, University of Calabar (UNICAL), Prof Adesegun Fatusi, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (OAU), Prof Jonathan Aligbe (UNIBEN) and Mr Peter Tobrise of the NUC.