The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved an increase in the admission quota for the University of Abuja’s Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, raising the number from 75 to 200.
The approval follows a comprehensive re-accreditation exercise and aligns with national efforts to expand access to medical education across Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Acting Director of Information and University Relations, Dr Habib Yakoob.
According to Yakoob, the announcement was made by the Registrar of the MDCN, Prof Fatima Kyari, after a 17-member team from the Council conducted a thorough and objective re-accreditation assessment at the university.
Kyari commended the University for its commitment to improving facilities, but also pointed out several areas requiring further development, including staffing, pathology laboratories, transportation, and clinical skills support.
“When we talk about quota, we are referring to the resource-based carrying capacity.
“For a quota of 150 students, you need 450 bed spaces for clinical training. You currently have 360.
“For 200, you need 600. However, we want to align with your growth aspirations.
“The nation needs more doctors, and as Abuja is the capital, it should rise to the occasion. So, we are giving you 200,” she explained.
She added that the Council would continue to monitor compliance and support the university in its efforts to build the necessary capacity and infrastructure.
“We are not just here to point out what is available or lacking. We are here to encourage the university to keep striving toward meeting all required standards,” Kyari said.
She further noted that the quota increase is in line with the Federal Government’s broader goal of addressing the national shortage of doctors and strengthening the healthcare workforce.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has laid out a bold four-point agenda under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
“At the heart of this agenda is the strengthening of our healthcare workforce, from training to retention, as a critical driver for achieving universal health coverage and improved health outcomes,” she said.
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Kyari stressed that the re-accreditation process was guided by key standards including infrastructure adequacy, faculty strength, student-to-resource ratio, clinical training exposure, and governance of the medical school.
Reacting to the development, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Patricia Lar, expressed profound gratitude to the MDCN.
“The joy we feel regarding this announcement is boundless. We opened all our doors, there was no cover-up.
“We did our best, and the constructive feedback from the MDCN will push us to aim even higher,” she said.
She reaffirmed the University’s dedication to excellence in medical education.
“We have been working tirelessly to grow the University and ensure our College of Health Sciences meets global standards.
“I am proud to be leading the University at this critical moment.
“Even if I am no longer in office when my tenure ends, I am confident that a solid foundation has been laid and progress will continue,” she added.
