The National Universities Commission (NUC) has approved the commencement of Medicine and Surgery at Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU), paving the way for the institution to admit its first batch of medical students from the 2026/2027 academic session.
The approval was contained in a letter dated September 3, 2026, following a resource verification exercise conducted by the commission at the university, according to a statement issued by the AKSU Registrar, Dr Ebi Eno Ibanga.
With the approval, Medicine and Surgery becomes part of the university’s growing professional programmes and takes the number of NUC-approved programmes at AKSU to 85. The institution said the development would strengthen its contribution to manpower development and healthcare delivery in Akwa Ibom.
The Registrar commended the Akwa Ibom State Government and other stakeholders for their support towards securing the approval, while Vice-Chancellor, Prof Otoabasi Akpan, acknowledged the role of Governor Umo Eno’s administration in the development and accreditation of professional programmes at the university.
Akpan also credited the Commissioner for Health, Dr Emmanuel Ekem John, with contributing to the process that culminated in the approval, noting that the university’s expansion was aimed at creating wider opportunities for students while aligning its programmes with contemporary manpower needs.
A medical practitioner, Dr Nsikak Udo, described the approval as timely, saying it could contribute to addressing the shortage of doctors and improving the doctor-to-patient ratio in Akwa Ibom and Nigeria. He linked the development to the state government’s investments in medical infrastructure, research and manpower development.
The approval adds Medicine and Surgery to professional disciplines already secured by the university under Akpan’s leadership, including Law, Pharmacy, Nursing Science and Public Health. The university said the expansion would deepen the link between academic training, clinical practice and healthcare research.
The development also places greater responsibility on AKSU to sustain the required teaching facilities, clinical training, personnel and professional standards as the programme begins. The university said the medical school would provide another platform for specialised manpower development, clinical learning and research focused on the healthcare needs of the state and the wider Nigerian population.
