***Celebrates Pioneer Medical Students’Success
By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
The Igala Cultural and Development Association (ICDA) has urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi State to prioritize the reopening of the College of Medicine at Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU), Anyigba.
The ICDA made this appeal in response to the suspension of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) program in 2016 due to non-accreditation.
Speaking to journalists in Lokoja over the weekend, ICDA National President Surgeon Commodore Dr. Ahmed Abdullahi stressed the urgency of reviving the medical college to meet the expectations of students aspiring to pursue medical careers.
He noted that the university had originally launched its medical program in 2011, with classes beginning in 2012, before the program was halted just as students were set to advance to the clinical stage.
Dr. Abdullahi commended the then Vice Chancellor, Professor Hassan Isah, for his efforts in securing the necessary human and material resources for the program’s initial success.
He added that PAAU, now over 25 years old, has matured in both academic and infrastructural capacity, making it well-positioned to reintroduce the College of Medicine.
“We were overjoyed to learn that the pioneer medical students who were transferred to other universities have completed their studies and are now qualified doctors.
Their brilliant performances reflect the strong foundation laid during their pre-clinical training at PAAU,” Abdullahi said.
The ICDA President further emphasized the need for a teaching hospital at PAAU to support the training of future doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals.
He urged Governor Ododo to upscale and remodel the institution’s facilities to meet world-class standards, ensuring accreditation and improving tertiary healthcare in Kogi State.
“We appeal to Governor Ododo to seize the moment by re-establishing the College of Medicine and transforming the teaching hospital into a center that will be irresistible to accreditation agencies and beneficial to the state’s healthcare system,” Abdullahi concluded.