The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved Medicine as a complete academic curriculum at Novena University/Asaba Specialist Hospital.
This accomplishment, according to stakeholders, was made possible by the commitment, drive, and resilience of Prof Ofili Charles, Provost of the College of Medical and Health Sciences, Novena University, and Dr. P. A. Ighosewe, Chief Medical Director, Asaba Specialist Hospital, as well as the prompt intervention of Dr Joseph Onojaeme, the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Delta State.
The commissioner’s conviction in the Delta State Government’s PPP policy, as well as his matching order to the combined Asaba Specialist Hospital/Novena University team to deliver outcomes without fail, opened the path for this amazing performance.
The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) announced this excellent achievement during its recent advisory and clinical accreditation visit to Novena University/Asaba Specialist Hospital.
This announcement was given by none other than Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakamma, Director of Education of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, who headed the delegation on behalf of the Council’s Registrar, Dr Fatimah Kyari.
In a heartwarming exit speech, the team’s leader, Dr. Nwakamma Nnaemeka, speaking on behalf of the Council’s Registrar, praised Novena University and the Delta State Government (Asaba Specialist Hospital) for their outstanding performance in the accreditation exercise and verification of the university’s facilities, faculty, and overall readiness to run the Novena University College of Medical and Health Sciences’ programmes.
According to him, this achievement places Novena University among the few universities in Nigeria to be certified for Medicine on the first attempt. He stated that this result is exceptional since it is a professionally managed exercise that ensures the Novena/ASH team’s seriousness and preparedness to produce medical doctors for the world.
By this accreditation, graduates of Novena University will be acceptable all over the world to practice medicine upon meeting the internal requirements of each country.
He further explained that the context of this success was based on the non-compromising insistence of the Council that standards must be met at all costs. This, he adds, is the reason why Nigeria has continued to supply the world with qualified medical doctors.
He congratulated Novena University for this milestone achievement. He concluded his speech with the proverbial expression that the management of Novena University and Asaba Specialist Hospital can begin to roll out and beat the drums of celebrations for a successful accreditation result.
This pronouncement was greeted with great relief and understandable joy by the combined team of management of Novena University and Asaba Specialist Hospital, who worked tirelessly and prayed for the positive outcome of the accreditation exercise.
Given the philosophy of excellence preached in Novena University and the frantic preparations that were put in place in readiness for the accreditation visit, the positive outcome of the exercise follows the natural order that “hard work pays.”
In his response, the Vice-Chancellor of Novena University Professor Godwin Nduka expressed his profound gratitude to MDCN, Dr. Nwakamma and members of his team who were drawn from universities and related professional bodies across Nigeria for their diligence and thoroughness in the performance of their responsibilities to the medical profession and the larger Nigerian society.
He had special commendations for Professor Ofili, Provost of the College of Medicine, Novena University; and Dr. P. A. Ighosewe, the CMD of Asaba Specialist Hospital, for their expertise, professionalism, and organisational abilities in guiding this winning team to the end of this success story.
He went on to salute the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council of Novena University, Chuks Ochonogor, for his foresight, patronage, and exceptional leadership qualities that have resulted in this epochal accreditation success for Novena University College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
He concluded his speech with thankfulness for His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Arthur Okowa, who, as Governor and a Medical Doctor himself, saw to it that this fruitful marriage between Novena University and the Delta State Government was contracted.
The Vice Chancellor’s expression of joy was equalled, if not surpassed, by the ecstatic and pulsating feelings of excitement that pervaded the Novena University atmospheric space when news of the successful accreditation filtered onto the campus in the afternoon of April 25, 2024.
This was especially so for the medical students who were understandably concerned and anxious about the outcome of the accreditation, despite their deep sitted confidence in the capacity and capabilites of Novena University and their handlers.
Now, they can go about their dreams of qualifying as medical doctors with renewed vigour and redoubtable reassurance that they have chosen a university that will deliver their dreams of becoming medical doctors of international reputation in no distant time from now