NUC Grants Approval for Jigawa Medical University, Making Nigeria’s 328th University By Beauty Akporido Aroh
The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted formal recognition to the Jigawa State University of Medical and Allied Health Sciences, Majia, making it Nigeria’s 328th university and the country’s 70th state-owned university.
The approval, announced during the presentation of the institution’s certificate of recognition, marks another milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to expand access to higher education while strengthening medical and allied health training.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, said the approval formed part of the Commission’s recent issuance of provisional licences to 15 universities across the country.
According to him, the specialised institution will gradually phase out its existing conventional academic programmes after the current students complete their studies, shifting its focus entirely to medical and allied health sciences.
The university is expected to commence with programmes in Anatomy, Physiology, Public Health, Nutrition and Dietetics, Radiography, Health Information Management, and Pharmacy.
Prof. Ribadu, however, cautioned the university management against admitting students into any of the new programmes without first obtaining NUC resource verification to ensure the availability of adequate infrastructure, academic personnel and other facilities required for quality education.
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, described the approval as a landmark achievement, explaining that the institution was acquired from private ownership and transformed into a specialised medical university to address the state’s growing healthcare workforce needs.
He noted that the state currently sponsors nearly 200 medical students studying abroad and expressed optimism that the new university would provide a sustainable, home-grown solution for training doctors and other healthcare professionals.
“The establishment of this university is aimed at producing the manpower required to support our expanding healthcare system. We remain committed to ensuring its success,” the governor said.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said the recognition aligns with the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening medical education and healthcare delivery under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
She stressed that Nigeria’s increasing population and rising healthcare demands require greater investment in the training of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, laboratory scientists and other allied health professionals.
Describing the specialised university as both timely and strategic, the minister said it would not only serve the people of Jigawa State but also contribute significantly to addressing the national shortage of skilled healthcare workers.
She urged the institution to prioritise quality education, ethical standards, relevant curricula and strong partnerships with teaching hospitals and healthcare institutions, assuring that the Federal Government would continue to support states making meaningful investments in education and health.
With the latest approval, Nigeria’s university system has expanded to 328 universities, reflecting ongoing efforts to improve access to tertiary education and build the human capital needed to drive national development, particularly in the health sector.
