Korede Abdullah 
ILESA, Nigeria – The National Universities Commission has approved a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery programme for the University of Ilesa, marking a major milestone in the institution’s rapid expansion.
Vice-Chancellor Taiwo Asaolu on Wednesday said the university is awaiting final accreditation from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria before admitting students into the programme.
The approval comes just three years after the institution was upgraded from a college of education, a transition Asaolu said began under challenging conditions, including poor infrastructure and low staff morale.
Today, the university runs 97 accredited programmes and has grown its student population from about 1,000 to over 15,000.
The institution is also upgrading the State General Hospital in Ilesa into a teaching hospital to support clinical training.
Despite the progress, Asaolu acknowledged ongoing challenges, including inadequate accommodation, unstable power supply and limited lecture facilities.
The expansion reflects broader efforts to strengthen medical education capacity in Nigeria amid persistent shortages of healthcare professionals.
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Mirian Gom 
