The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) has accredited MEDICINE for Novena University and Asaba Specialist Hospital.
This feat was achieved through the commitment, drive and resilience of the Provost of the College of Medical and Health Sciences of the University, Professor Ofili Charles and Chief Medical Director, Asaba Specialist Hospital, Dr. P. A. Ighosewe, as well as the prompt intervention of Dr Joseph Onojaeme, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Delta State.
The commissioner’s belief in the PPP policy of the Delta State Government and his matching order to the combined team of Asaba Specialist Hospital/Novena University to get the results without failing paved the way for this phenomenal success.
The pronouncement of this great achievement was made during the recent advisory and clinical accreditation visit to Novena University/Asaba Specialist Hospital by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria. This declaration was made by no less a personality than Dr. Nnaemeka Nwakamma, Director of Education, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, who led the team on behalf of the Registrar of the Council, Dr Fatimah Kyari.
In a heartwarming exit speech, the leader of the team, Dr Nwakamma Nnaemeka, speaking on behalf of the Registrar, 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 universities across Nigeria to get Medicine accredited for it in the very first attempt. He said that the success is phenomenal because it’s an exercise that was professionally handled to ensure the seriousness and preparedness of the Novena/ASH team to produce medical doctors for the world. By the 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 the 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. Giving 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 the team to the end of the 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 the epochal accreditation success of Novena University College of Medicine and Health Sciences. He concluded his speech by thanking His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Oborevwori and his predecessor, Dr. Arthur Okowa, who, as Governor and a Medical Doctor himself, saw to it that the 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 confidence in the capacity and capabilities of Novena University and their handlers.
Now, they can go about their dreams of qualifying as medical doctors with renewed vigour and 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.