By Ayodele Oni
Reprieve has come for medical students of the Bayelsa Medical University (BMU) as the National Universities Commission, (NUC) gave approval for its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, as well as its Health Administration programme.
This is coming almost seven years after the institution was established, during which medical graduates of the University were denied necessary recognition by professional bodies.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Dimie Ogoina, disclosed this during an appearance on Talk to Bayelsa, describing the approval granted by the NUC as a significant achievement for the institution and a testament to its rapid growth and commitment to excellence.
Prof Ogoina explained that the full accreditation, which was granted in April 2026, followed years of deliberate investments in qualified manpower, modern infrastructure, and clinical training facilities aimed at meeting national and international standards in medical education.
According to him, the accreditation has further enhanced the university’s credibility and reputation, positioning it as one of the emerging centres of excellence in medical and health sciences education in Nigeria and beyond.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the Bayelsa State Government for its unwavering support, noting that the institution’s progress would not have been possible without sustained investments in infrastructure development, staff recruitment, research, and academic expansion.
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He recalled that the university was established to address the shortage of specialised healthcare professionals in Nigeria and the Niger Delta region, adding that it currently offers programmes in key health-related disciplines, including Radiography, Optometry, Physiotherapy, Public Health, Community Health, Nursing Science, and other allied health sciences.
Prof Ogoina further revealed that the university has embraced innovation-driven learning by establishing state-of-the-art facilities such as Virtual Reality (VR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) laboratories to enhance teaching, learning, and clinical simulations for students.
On infrastructure development, he disclosed that the ongoing development of the university’s permanent campus at Sampou in Kolokuma/Opokuma Local Government Area would significantly ease pressure on existing facilities at the Yenagoa campus.
He added that additional student hostels being constructed through the intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) would help improve accommodation and welfare for students.
Addressing concerns over admission standards and tuition fees, Prof Ogoina maintained that the university remains committed to merit-based admissions and the maintenance of global best practices in medical education.
He also noted that Bayelsa State indigenes currently enjoy a 50 per cent tuition fee rebate, while students can access various government-backed educational loans and scholarship schemes designed to make quality medical education more affordable and accessible.
The Vice-Chancellor expressed optimism that the university would continue to expand its academic offerings and strengthen its contribution to healthcare delivery, research, and human capital development in Bayelsa State and Nigeria as a whole.
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