The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved an increase in the admission quota for medicine and dentistry at the College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) to 350, the highest allocation granted to any medical school in the country.
The approval followed a rigorous accreditation exercise conducted by a high-powered MDCN team, which assessed facilities, manpower, and training standards at the ESUT College of Medicine and its affiliated teaching hospitals.
Announcing the development in Enugu this week, Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakanma, the deputy registrar of the Council, said the decision was based strictly on verifiable improvements in infrastructure, personnel, and clinical training capacity, stressing that the Council does not accredit projections but tangible performance.
“We do not accredit intentions or dreams. We accredit what we see on ground as at the time of assessment,” he said, underscoring the Council’s zero tolerance for breaches of approved quotas.
Dr. Nwakanma, who led the inspection team, expressed satisfaction with the scale of ongoing transformation at the university’s teaching hospital, describing it as a massive construction hub driven by purposeful leadership.
“What may appear chaotic to the uninitiated is in fact a coordinated project site, with multiple developments progressing simultaneously across different sections of the hospital. It speaks volumes about leadership that prioritises results over rhetoric,” he said.
He particularly commended the construction of a new Accident and Emergency Unit, noting that the Council had only recommended an expansion during its previous visit.
“The last time we came here, we complained about the Accident and Emergency Unit. All we said was for you to expand. We didn’t know that you were going to build a brand new Accident and Emergency Unit,” he added.
The MDCN team also inspected the upgraded Colliery Hospital and the 300-bed International Hospital, a major new medical facility in Enugu, which Nwakanma said could significantly contribute to reversing outbound medical tourism.
“We were not only stunned but we were in awe of the magnificence of the structure you are putting up here in the city of Enugu. Nigeria needs to know. Apart from the African Centre of Medical Excellence in Abuja, this hospital gives us hope for the possibility of actually reversing medical tourism in Nigeria,” he stated.
Dr Nwakanma reiterated that the quota system reflects the capacity of each institution’s facilities and teaching staff, warning that any attempt to exceed approved limits would attract sanctions.
“The number we approve is what your facilities and manpower can sustain. You can admit fewer, but never exceed it. The integrity of Nigeria’s medical training depends on strict adherence to these standards,” he stressed.
Reacting, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Prof Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, welcomed the approval and assured the Council that the university would address identified gaps without delay.
“We will not produce half-baked medical personnel. The issues you raised will be addressed urgently. These are things that can be fixed within months,” he said, adding that the institution remained committed to upholding global best practices in medical education.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Yomi Jaye, reaffirmed the state government’s readiness to sustain investments in the sector.
“Point out any deficiencies, and we will fix them in no distant time. The commitment of Governor Peter Mbah is total, and the team on ground is equally determined to deliver,” he said.
Dr Jaye also acknowledged the collaboration between the College leadership, including the Provost, Prof. Uchenna Ekwochi, the Chief Medical Director of the ESUT Teaching Hospital, Prof. Bethrand Ugwu, and other key officials, noting that the conducive working environment contributed significantly to the successful outcome.
