By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Makurdi
The Benue State College of Health Sciences, Benue State University Makurdi, has graduated four hundred and fifteen according to the Provost of the College, Prof Linus Saalu
The break down shows that Medical Doctors comprises 336) males and 79 females between 2015 to 2024 when Benue State Governor facilitated the accreditation of Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programs by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
Provost of the College Professor, Linnus Saalu stated this during the 10th professional Induction and Admission Ceremony for the 2024 Graduating Medical Doctors at the College of Health Sciences Auditorium of the University in Makurdi
Professor Saalu explained that the College of Health Sciences inducted her first set of twenty seven (27) medical doctors in Nov. 2015 which was the batch B of 1st set consisting 13 Medical Doctors inducted and another set of 21 Medical Doctors in November 2016.
He stated that the College graduated 52 in March 2017 and 41 Medical Doctors in 2018 even as 46 Medical Doctors were graduated in 2019 bringing the number to 227
Speaking further, he said another induction of 45 Medical Doctors was in 2020 added the number to 272 and last induction in 2023, 41 Medical Doctors were graduated and today’s induction of 58 brought the number to 415 Medical Doctors.
The Provost equally disclosed that the College has graduated students in other programs such as; B.Sc. Human Anatomy, B.Sc. Human Physiology and B.Sc Biochemistry as well as Bachelor of Nursing Science, B. Sc. Radiography/Radiation Science and Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science.
He noted that the State Government has worked tirelessly to ensure that the Schools of Nursing and Midwifery has been absorbed into the college of Health Sciences there by making them degree awarding institutions.
He appreciated the Visitor who is Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Alia for resolving the salary shortfall of the College in addition to other provisions to the University.
The Vice Chancellor of the Benue State University, professor Joe Tor Iorapuu revealed that the University has recently recorded a milestone of actualising 100% NUC accreditation pass mark adding that the list of Governing Council has just been made public and the university would certainly move fast again.
The guest speaker and Chief Medical Director, Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Steven Hwande who delivered a speech titled; Fulfilling your Medical Professional Goals Looking at Teaching Hospital advised the newly graduated students to remember to fulfill their goals of becoming Medical Doctors in other to protect the Profession and should not dent her image.
New Nigerian Newspapers gathered that the University is the first State owned University in Northern Nigeria to established a University Teaching Hospital.
