UNIABUJA Medicine Programme Gets Major Expansion: MDCN Increases Admission Quota to 200

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has approved a significant expansion of the University of Abuja's medical programme. The admission quota for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme has been increased from 75 to 200 students annually, representing a 167% increase in capacity.

Quota Increase Details

• Previous Quota: 75 students per year
• New Quota: 200 students per year
• Increase: 125 additional admission slots
• Approval Authority: Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)

Re-Accreditation Process

The quota increase follows a thorough re-accreditation exercise conducted by a 17-member MDCN assessment team at the University of Abuja's main campus. The team evaluated the institution's capacity to handle increased student numbers.

Infrastructure Requirements

According to Professor Fatima Kyari, MDCN Registrar, the quota decision is based on clinical bed space availability:

Bed Space Requirements

• For 150 students: 450 bed spaces needed
• UNIABUJA currently has: 360 bed spaces
• For 200 students: 600 bed spaces required

National Healthcare Impact

Professor Kyari emphasized that this expansion supports:

• Federal government's goal of expanding medical education access
• Addressing Nigeria's national shortage of doctors
• Increasing healthcare workforce capacity
• Meeting growing healthcare demands

Areas for Development

While approving the increase, MDCN identified priority areas for improvement:

• Faculty capacity expansion
• Pathology laboratory enhancement
• Transportation infrastructure
• Clinical skills training facilities

University's Response

Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Patricia Manko Lar expressed gratitude for the decision, stating: "The joy we feel regarding this announcement is boundless. We opened all our doors, there was no cover-up."

What This Means for Prospective Medical Students

Increased Opportunities

• 125 more admission slots available annually
• Better chances of securing admission to study medicine
• More Nigerians can pursue medical careers
• Reduced competition per available slot

For JAMB Candidates

If you're planning to study medicine:

• UNIABUJA is now a more viable option with expanded capacity
• Consider UNIABUJA when making your JAMB choices
• The increased quota may affect cutoff marks
• More students will have access to quality medical education

UNIABUJA Medicine Programme

Benefits of studying medicine at University of Abuja:

• Federal university with quality medical education
• Located in Nigeria's capital city
• Access to major teaching hospitals
• Experienced medical faculty
• Modern medical facilities
• Clinical exposure in diverse healthcare settings

Nigeria's Doctor Shortage

This expansion addresses a critical national need:

• Nigeria faces a significant shortage of medical doctors
• Many doctors emigrate, creating gaps in healthcare delivery
• Increasing medical school capacity helps build the healthcare workforce
• More doctors mean better healthcare access for Nigerians

Looking Ahead

The quota increase takes effect immediately, meaning:

• The 2025/2026 admission cycle will reflect the new 200-student quota
• UNIABUJA will continue developing infrastructure to support expansion
• Future MDCN assessments will monitor implementation
• The university will work on identified improvement areas

Important Notes

• The quota increase doesn't lower admission standards
• Candidates must still meet JAMB and university requirements
• Competition remains high for medical school admission
• Quality of education remains a priority despite expansion

This is excellent news for aspiring medical students! The expansion creates more opportunities for Nigerians to study medicine while helping address the country's healthcare workforce needs.

Source: MySchool.ng