The University of Ilesa (UNILESA) will commence two medical programmes, Medicine and Surgery, and Health Information and Informatics, in the next academic session.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu stated this on Friday, while receiving the management team of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), led by its Chief Medical Director, Prof. Akin Okeniyi in Ilesa.
Prof. Asaolu noted that arrangement are already in place for the take-off of Medicine and Surgery programme, as the State Government under the leadership of Governor Ademola Adeleke, has approved the upgrading od the State General Hospital in Ilesa, to UNILESA Teaching Hospital.
“We seek your expertise in capacity building to make this hospital
functional. OAUTHC is a reputable Tertiary Health Institution and there is no doubt that UNILESA Teaching Hospital would have a lot to learn from her.
“We equally thank you for the quality medical attention our students receive at the Wesley Guild Hospital anytime they are referred to the Hospital from our Health Centre.
“Your staff’s professionalism and service delivery have always impressed us. I often visit our students on admission and I am bold to say they always receive good attention,” Asaolu remarked.
He assured the OAUTHC team that the collaboration between the two institutions, when fully in operation, will enhance the development of quality healthcare professionals.
“We assure you that we will adhere to the terms and conditions outlined in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we signed. We appreciate you for accepting to partner with us in providing clinical studies for our students.
“I thank you for visiting us. We look forward to consolidating our partnership and exploring ways to enhance healthcare and education,” he said.
In his response, Prof. Okeniyi said the visit of the OAUTHC management is long overdue, while commiserating with the UNILESA management on the recent loss of a student of the institution.
Okeniyi said OAUTHC would ensure that UNILESA must succeed, adding that the few years Prof. Asaolu has been in the saddle of the institution has witnessed a progressive curve.
“We assure you that we will partner with you to ensuring that the new health programmes succeed. We will also look at helping you to improve your capacity for the postgraduate programme in Nursing science,” he said.
According to Prof. Okeniyi, institutions like UNILESA should also look beyond the general medical programmes by introducing programmes in the areas of paramedical education which will lead to professional development and job creations.
“We at OAUTHC will be ready to provide the training for your students at any time. Yours is to ensure that you provide the necessary and conducive environment for them when they come in,” Okeniyi remarked.
The University of Ilesa, Osun State was established in September 2022, but became properly organized in April 2023 when the State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, appointed Principal Officers to direct the affairs of the University.
The University has grown rapidly, offering 67 academic programmes across nine faculties. The current medical programmes at the institution are housed within three faculties:
Faculty of Nursing Sciences
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Maternal and Child Health Nursing
- Public/Community Health Nursing
- Mental Health and Psychiatric Nursing
Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences
- Chemical Pathology & Immunology
- Medical Microbiology & Parasitology
Haematology & Blood Transfusion Science - Histopathology & Forensic Medicine
Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences
- Public Health
- Physiology
- Physiotherapy
- Anatomy
- Optometry
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Dental Technology and Dental Therapy
- Health Information Management
