AKSU Gets NUC Approval For Medicine, Surgery, Raises Approved Programmes To 85

• NUC approves AKSU’s MBBS programme for commencement in the 2026/2027 academic session.

• AKSU’s NUC-approved programmes rise to 85, reflecting a major expansion of its academic portfolio.

• Stakeholders say the medical programme could strengthen doctor supply, medical research and healthcare manpower development in Akwa Ibom.

September 10 () – Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme from the 2026/2027 academic session, in a development expected to strengthen medical manpower development in the state.

The approval, conveyed in a letter dated September 3, 2026, followed a resource verification visit by the NUC to the university and brings the number of NUC-approved programmes offered by AKSU to 85.

The development represents a significant expansion of the university’s professional programmes and is expected to provide aspiring medical students in Akwa Ibom and beyond with an opportunity to study Medicine and Surgery within the state.

The Registrar of the university, Dr Ebi Eno Ibanga, expressed the institution’s appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State Government and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the establishment and approval of the programme.

The approval also marks another milestone in the administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Otoabasi Akpan, who assumed office in August 2025 and has overseen an expansion of the university’s academic portfolio.

Since his assumption of office, the university has secured approval for several professional programmes, including Law, Pharmacy, Nursing Science and Public Health, with Medicine and Surgery now added to the list.

A medical professional, Dr Nsikak Udo, described the approval as timely, saying it would contribute to efforts to address the shortage of doctors and other specialised health personnel in the state and Nigeria generally.

According to him, establishing medical training locally would also strengthen the link between medical education, research and healthcare delivery, particularly if supported with adequate facilities, teaching personnel and clinical training opportunities.

The approval comes amid increased investment by the state government in healthcare infrastructure and human capital development, with stakeholders expecting the new medical programme to complement those efforts by creating a pipeline for locally trained doctors.

A medical student who spoke exclusively with described the development as a major opportunity for young people in the state who aspire to pursue Medicine without having to leave Akwa Ibom.

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“This is exciting for students because it means more young people will have access to medical education within the state. But the real test will be the quality of training, the laboratories, teaching hospitals and clinical exposure available to us.

“If those areas are properly developed, AKSU can produce doctors who will make a real difference in Akwa Ibom and beyond”, the student said.

The Vice-Chancellor has credited Governor Umo Bassey Eno’s administration with supporting the university’s drive to secure accreditation and approvals for professional programmes.

Prof Akpan also acknowledged the contribution of the Commissioner for Health, Dr Emmanuel Ekem John, to the process that culminated in the MBBS approval.

The NUC resource verification process assesses an institution’s readiness in areas including academic staffing, infrastructure, equipment and other resources required to sustain a programme, making the approval an indication that AKSU met the Commission’s requirements for commencement.

Beyond admissions, the establishment of Medicine and Surgery is expected to expand AKSU’s potential as a centre for medical research, clinical learning and professional collaboration, while creating opportunities for interaction between the university and the state’s healthcare system.

The university’s expansion to 85 NUC-approved programmes also signals a broader academic mandate, with the institution increasingly offering professional disciplines targeted at sectors considered critical to the state’s development.

For the university, the MBBS approval opens a new academic chapter, while for Akwa Ibom’s healthcare sector, it provides an additional avenue for developing the specialised manpower required to meet future health needs.