Abuja: The University of Abuja (UniAbuja) has inaugurated a 500-capacity lecture theatre and a new building for the College of Health Sciences to provide a conducive environment for learning and work. Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of UniAbuja, Prof. Aisha Maikudi, stated that the project would enhance productivity and create an effective learning atmosphere for students of the college.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the 500-capacity lecture theatre was a project funded under the 2014 NEEDS Assessment initiative. Prof. Maikudi also noted that the newly constructed college building, along with its external infrastructure and landscaping, was part of the 2021 TetFund annual intervention projects. She urged the provost of the college to ensure the proper maintenance of the facilities on behalf of the university.
Addressing the issue of re-accreditation, Maikudi revealed that the Ministry of Health had directed all colleges of medicine to double their student quotas. She added that the college would need to seek re-accreditation to confirm adequate staffing and resources to meet the increased capacity. “We are not just aiming to double the quota; we want to exceed that target,” Maikudi stated. “As the only federal university in the FCT, we have a high demand from prospective students, but with our current small quota, we cannot accommodate many applicants. Increasing our capacity will allow us to admit more students.”
The Provost of the College of Health Sciences, UniAbuja, Prof. Titus Ibekwe, praised the university’s efforts to attract support from external donors, emphasizing that the government alone could not meet all funding needs. Prof. Ibekwe expressed the college’s gratitude for the vice-chancellor’s initiatives and assured her of the college’s commitment to advancing the university’s objectives. He also noted that the college is preparing for re-accreditation by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
“The official carrying capacity by the Medical and Dental Council for medical students is 75 slots, but we have over 3000 that applied for medicine here,” Ibekwe explained. “The Federal Government has given instruction that the capacity be doubled which means if we are able to do that it will be 150. We are working towards ensuring that when the council comes, it will see facilities good enough for up to 250 students.”
The event concluded with the formal handover of keys to the newly constructed building by the vice-chancellor to the provost of the College of Health Sciences.