Best Medical Schools in Nigeria | To take care of the facts and figures aspect, we have decided to provide you with detailed information on the best medical schools in Nigeria to help you make an informed decision.
To qualify to practice as a medical doctor in Nigeria, you have to attend a medical school. However, there are so many medical schools in Nigeria that it can become really difficult to choose a very good one to attend.
It is very important to select a medical school carefully. This is one of the most important decisions you would ever make and it is very important to do it with care, precision and armed with the relevant facts and figures because really, all medical schools are not created equal.
Almost every university in Nigeria offers medicine and surgery as an accredited course but if you want to be able to compete with your colleagues on the international scene and be a very good doctor, these are the medical schools that are likely to help you achieve that.
Nigeria may not be your first go-to country for medical education, but the Western African country surely7 has its perks. For one, it is home to a handful of accredited medical schools. Additionally, it’s not that expensive to live and study in this beautiful paradise. With the country’s many learning opportunities, Nigeria should be on the list of any aspiring doctor. In this article, we will be looking at the best medical schools in Nigeria.
How long is medical education in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, Medicine is an undergraduate-level course that takes 6 years to finish. There are some universities, however, that offer an accelerated 5-year program.
What are the medical school requirements in Nigeria?
More than just a high school diploma, applicants need to have at least 5 credits in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and English. Apart from these, they also need to take the JAMB UTME exam and get a score of at least 200.
Top Medical Schools in Nigeria
1. University of Ibadan College of Medicine
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The University of Ibadan is a public university founded in 1948, making it the country’s oldest degree-awarding institution. The university used to be part of the University of London system until it was granted its independent status in 1963.
The College of Medicine, which is one of the university’s first departments, is widely regarded as the best medical school in Nigeria. To date, it has produced almost a quarter of all physicians in the country.
The college’s medical students complete their clerkship rotations at the University College Hospital. Established in 1963, it is situated in the largest city in West Africa and is considered Nigeria’s flagship tertiary hospital. It has a bed capacity of 850 and is known as the center for medical treatment, training, and research.
2. Obafemi Awolowo University
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The Obafemi Awolowo University is a federal educational institution based in Ife-Ife, Nigeria. It was initially established as the University of Ife in 1961. It was renamed after the late premier, who conceptualized the university, after his death in 1987.
Its Medicine course is governed by two departments within the College of Health Sciences. The first is the Faculty of Basic Medical Science, which covers the subjects of Anatomy, Cell Biology, Biochemistry, and Medical Pharmacology. It also teaches the basic clinical disciplines of Chemical Pathology, Immunology, Microbiology, Hematology, and Parasitology.
Medical students from the 4th to 6th levels, on the other hand, are taught by the Faculty of Clinical Sciences. It governs the clinical science courses, which include Community Health, Mental Health, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Surgery, and Orthopedics, to name a few.
Internships are done at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, a collection of 6 centers. They are the hubs for promotive, preventive, diagnostic, and rehabilitative services in the area.
3. Ahmadu Bello University Faculty of Medicine
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Next in our list of best medical schools in Nigeria is the Ahmadu Bello University, which was opened in 1962. Formerly the University of Northern Nigeria, it was eventually named after Sir Ahhmadu Bello, the first premiere of the region.
Its Faculty of Medicine was launched 5 years after the university’s founding. Due to the disruptions during the civil war, the school’s first 27 doctors only graduated in 1972.
The university’s Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree is a 6-year course divided into 2 parts. The pre-clinical phase covers 2 stages, the first of which delves with basic science courses. The second stage, on the other hand, features lessons about the human body and its functions.
The clinical phase runs from stages 3 to 6. Such semesters include courses in Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Methods, and Medicine & Surgery. Medical disciplines are taught during the 5th phase, while the 6th semester covers rotations in Medicine, Community Medicine, and Surgery.
4. University of Lagos College of Medicine
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The University of Lagos, also known as UNILAG, is one of Nigeria’s first generation universities. Established in 1962, it has campuses in Lagos, Yaba, and Surulere. The latter houses its College of Medicine, which prides itself to be a world-class, research-intensive medical school.
For the first 2 years, medical students are taught by professors from the Faculty of Basic Sciences. The courses during this pre-clinical phase include Anatomy, Pathology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Physiology.
The third- to sixth-year students, on the other hand, are overseen by the Department of Clinical Sciences. Before receiving a diploma, students are required to undergo clinical rotations at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
5. Lagos State University College of Medicine
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Lagos State University was created in 1983 as a response to the state’s call for the advancement of learning. It has campuses in Ojo, Epe, and Ikeja, with the latter being the hub of the College of Medicine.
The medical school, fondly known as Lasucom, was established in 1999. This was made possible by the generous donation of Col. Mohammed Buba Marwa, who donated the Ayinke House for use.
As with other universities, Lasucom’s Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences provides the foundation courses of anatomy, physiology, and medical biochemistry. This is followed by subjects from the Department of Basic Clinical Sciences, which include Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Microbiology, Parasitology, Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Hematology.
For 30 months, medical students are rotated under the Department of Clinical Sciences. This medical school in Nigeria supervises the internship program, which includes clinic duties, ward rounds, theater sessions, and community health duties, to name a few.
6. The University of Nigeria – Nsukka Faculty of Medical Sciences
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The University of Nigeria – Nsukka (UNN) is a federal university located in the state of Enugu. As the first autonomous institution in the country, it is modeled after the American educational system.
The Faculty of Medical Sciences was opened in 1966, although schooling only started in 1970 following the civil war. In 1984, the faculty was designated as a full-fledged College of Medicine. From a small class of 60 students, UNN now enrolls about 150 students yearly. While it offers 5 and 6-year MBBS programs, 90% of the enrollees are relegated to the latter.
In the 6-year track, students start with the pre-med courses of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. This is followed by basic science/pre-clinical education, while the last 3 years are devoted to clinical learning. After earning the MBBS degree, these students are deployed for a 12-month internship program. This is a requirement for students to be promoted as unsupervised medical officers.
7. University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences
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The University of Ilorin is a federal university based in Kwara State, Nigeria. It is one of the largest institutions in the country, with a campus spanning 5000 hectares of land. Its College of Health Sciences was founded in 1977, 2 years after the university was established.
In contrast to other universities, the college follows a student-centered curriculum, which integrates problem-solving with learning. This was made to bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical education, ensuring the smooth continuity of medical learning towards the internship stage.
This Community Based Experience and Services (COBES) program has earned the university recognition from both the World Health Organization and the Network of Community-Based Medical Schools.
8. Delta State University
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Fondly known as DELSU, Delta State University is a government-owned institution based in Abraka. Founded in 1992, it covers 3 campuses in Abraka, Asaka, and Oleh. The Medical course is taught on the Abraka campus.
As with most Nigerian medical schools, the first part of the curriculum is taught by professors from the Department of Basic Medical Science. The second part of the course is relegated to professors from the Department of Clinical Science. Here, students are taught about the fundamentals of Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surgery, and Psychiatry, to name a few.
The last year of schooling is dedicated to a tour of duty at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital.
9. Niger Delta University College of Health Sciences
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Established in 2000, Niger Delta University is one of the country’s youngest educational institutions. Founded in the year 2000, it is funded by the state of Bayelsa. It has 3 campuses, with one specially reserved for the College of Health Sciences.
The Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences provides the fundamental courses for healthcare practice. The Department of Clinical Sciences, which oversees the higher years, is comprised of specialists in the fields of Anesthesiology, Community Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry.
The medical program is taught through a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, study groups, workshops, seminars, and conferences.
10. Imo State University Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
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The final candidate in our list of top medical schools in Nigeria is Imo State University, which was established in 1981. Based in Owerri, the university enjoys full accreditation from the National Universities Commission of Nigeria.
For a time, it was named Abia State University until it was re-established in 1992. During this transition, the college was unable to take students right up until 1998.
In 2007, the college underwent a major revamp. It was divided into 2 departments, namely the Faculty of Health Sciences and the Faculty of Medicine. The latter is the current home of 13 departments and a handful of dedicated professors.
Despite this change, the college continues to follow its philosophy of educating health professionals who are attuned to the needs of the community. Apart from that, its MBBS graduates are also expected to be competent healthcare providers, conscientious health advocates, perseverant medical investigators, patient health educators, and driven public policymakers.