The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has accredited Medicine for Novena University/Asaba Specialist Hospital.
This feat was achieved through the commitment, drive, and resilience of Provost of the College of Medical and Health Sciences at Novena University, Prof. Charles Ofili; and Chief Medical Director of Asaba Specialist Hospital, Dr. Peace Ighosewe, and the prompt intervention of Delta State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joseph Onojaeme.
The commissioner’s belief in the Public-Private Partnership policy of the state government and his matching order to the combined team of Asaba Specialist Hospital and Novena University to get the results without failing paved the way for this phenomenal success.
The pronouncement was made during the recent advisory and clinical accreditation visit to Novena University/Asaba Specialist Hospital by MDCN.
This declaration was made by MDCN’s Director of Education, Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakamma, who led the team in representation of the Registrar, Dr Fatimah Kyari.
On behalf of MDCN’s Registrar, Nwakamma commended the partnership of Novena University and the Delta State Government (Asaba Specialist Hospital), for the excellent performance in the accreditation exercise and verification of the university’s facilities, faculty, and overall preparedness to run the Novena University College of Medical and Health Sciences’ programmes.
According to him, this success makes Novena University one of the few across Nigeria to get Medicine accredited for it in their first attempt.
He said that the success is phenomenal because it is an exercise that is professionally handled to ensure the seriousness and preparedness of the Novena/Asaba Specialist Hospital team 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.
Nwakamma explained that the context of the success was based on the non-compromising insistence of the Council that standards must be met at all costs.
This, he added, is the reason why Nigeria has continued to supply the world with qualified medical doctors.
He congratulated Novena University for the achievement.
The pronouncement was greeted with relief and understandable joy by the combined team of the management of Novena University and Asaba Specialist Hospital, who worked tirelessly and prayed for the positive outcome of the accreditation exercise.
Vice-Chancellor of Novena University, Prof. Godwin Nduka expressed his profound gratitude to MDCN, 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 went on to salute the Pro-Chancellor/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 thanked the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; and his predecessor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, who, as governor and a medical doctor himself, saw to it that this fruitful marriage between Novena University and the 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 university’s atmosphere when news of the successful accreditation filtered onto the campus in the afternoon of 25 April 2024.
This was especially so for the medical students who were concerned and anxious about the outcome of the accreditation, despite their confidence in the capacity of the university and their handlers.
