The Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences (FUMMSA), Abeokuta, says 850 students will be taking the matriculation oath on Thursday as pioneer undergraduates of the institution.
Vice Chancellor, Prof. Fatiu Arogundade, stated this on Tuesday at a news conference heralding the maiden matriculation ceremony of the university, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
This is just as he also sought support in the form of collaborations, endowments, and facility donations for the successful take-off of the institution.
NAN reports that the university was established on Sept. 23 , 2023 by late President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The university took off with eight faculties with the mandate to encourage the advancement of learning to all persons without distinction of race, creed, sex or political conviction.
According to the VC, the mission is to foster and train competent healthcare professionals equipped to respond to national and global health challenges through appropriate, creative and technology-driven solutions.
He noted that government alone cannot fund education, and therefore appealed for the collective support of prominent Egba sons and daughters as well as other Nigerians to help the university.
Arogundade said that the university had enjoyed tremendous support from the Ogun state government, prominent indigenes and public-spirited individuals.
“However, a lot more support is urgently needed to secure a fully-functional FUMMSA envisioned by the distinguished sons and daughters of Egbaland, Ogun state and Nigeria.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Federal Government of Nigeria alone cannot shoulder the enormous cost of providing all requisite facilities for the specialised university.
“In this light, the university will welcome endowments, donations, facilities/equipment which can be named after the donor if desired,” he said.
Arogundade added that the university was specifically established for the training of healthcare professionals in Nigeria, saying that the institution was opened for expansion.
“The creation of such specialised medical and health training facilities aims at increasing and improving Nigeria’s capacity in human resources for healthcare delivery.
“It is hoped that a significant proportion of graduates of these specialised health/medical universities will remain and serve in Nigeria to fulfil this mandate,” the vice chancellor said.
He hailed the contributions of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, and distinguished Egba sons and daughters for ensuring the establishment of the university.
He also thanked Gov. Dapo Abiodun for donating one of the Ogun model schools located at Onijanganjangan in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state, as the take-off site.
