10 Best Medical Schools in Nigeria

Many people think Nigerian schools are not the best place to study, and especially not medicine. Contrary to this, Nigeria is home to a handful of accredited medical schools. Nigerian medical schools continue to produce fine doctors that can compete with others on the globe. What’s more? Medical schools in Nigeria are much more affordable. This article provides you with a list of the best medical schools in Nigeria. You will find out that with so many learning opportunities available in Nigeria, any aspiring doctor should consider schooling in the country.

Duration of medical education in Nigeria

It takes 6 years to complete the study of medicine at the undergraduate level. However, there are some Nigerian universities that offer an accelerated 5-year medicine course.

Medical school requirements in Nigeria

Aspiring medicine students must have at least 5 credits in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and English. A candidate must also have written the JAMB UTME examinations and exceeded the cut-off as determined by his or her school of choice.

Below is a list of the 10 best medical schools in Nigeria.

Best Medical Schools in Nigeria

Best Medical Schools in Nigeria

University of Ibadan College of Medicine

The University of Ibadan tops the list as the best medical school in Nigeria. It is a public university founded in 1948. This makes the school Nigeria’s oldest degree-awarding institution. The University of Ibadan used to be part of the University of London system until it was granted its independent status in 1963.

What is more interesting is that The College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan is one of the university’s first departments. Despite its many years, it has retained its reputation as the best medical school in Nigeria. University of Ibadan College of Medicine has produced a large number of medical practitioners in the country. Students of the University’s College of Medicine complete their clerkship rotations at the University College Hospital. The College Hospital was established in 1963 (at the time the university gained its independent status). University of Ibadan College Hospital is located in Ibadan, the largest city in West Africa. The hospital is also often regarded as Nigeria’s flagship tertiary hospital. It is a known center for medical treatment, training, and research.

Obafemi Awolowo University

Obafemi Awolowo University is another highly reputable federal institution based in the town of Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The University was initially founded as the University of Ife in 1961. It was however renamed after Obafemi Awolowo, who was the late premier of the western region, and who conceptualized the university. The Medicine program at Obafemi Awolowo University is under the College of Health Sciences and is governed by two departments. First of which is the Faculty of Basic Medical Science where students are taught on subjects of Anatomy, Cell Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Medical Pharmacology. When medicine students reach their 4th year, they are moved to the Faculty of Clinical Sciences where they are taught the likes of Community Health, Mental Health, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Surgery, and Orthopedics. The students have their internships at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex. The hospital has six centres that provide promotive, preventive, diagnostic, and rehabilitative services in the area.

Ahmadu Bello University Faculty of Medicine

Formerly known as the University of Northern Nigeria, it was eventually named after Sir Ahmadu Bello, the first premiere of the Northern region. Ahmadu Bello University was opened in 1962.

Its Faculty of Medicine was opened 5 years after the university was established. However, due to disruptions caused by the civil war, the school’s graduated its first set of doctors in 1972.

Medicine and Surgery at the Ahamdu Bello University College of Medicine take 6 years which is divided into 2 parts. The first stage is the pre-clinical phase which covers basic science courses. The second stage covers lessons about the human body and its functions. Stage 3 to 6 is the clinical phase where students are taught courses in Laboratory Medicine, Community Medicine, Clinical Methods, and Medicine & Surgery.

University of Lagos College of Medicine

The University of Lagos, popularly known as UNILAG, is one of Nigeria’s first generation universities. UNILAG was established in 1962. It has campuses in Lagos, Yaba, and Surulere. Its College of Medicine is located at Surulere and prides itself to be a world-class, research-intensive medical school. For the first 2 years, students of UNILAG College of Medicine are taught under the Faculty of Basic Sciences. Here, they take courses such as Anatomy, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Physiology. From the third to sixth year, students take courses under the Department of Clinical Sciences. They then complete their clinical rotations at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital before awarded their degrees.

Lagos State University College of Medicine

Lagos State University (LASU) was created in 1983 as a response to the need for advanced learning in the state. It has campuses in Ojo, Epe, and Ikeja. Its College of Medicine is located at Ikeja. The medical school at LASU was established in 1999. Students of LASU Medical School take foundation courses such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Medical biochemistry under the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.  After this, they go on to take courses such as Pathology, Forensic Medicine, Microbiology, Pharmacology, under the Department of Basic Clinical Sciences. For 30 months, LASU medicine students are rotated under the Department of Clinical Sciences. Their internship programs include clinic duties, ward rounds, theater sessions, and community health duties, etc.

The University of Nigeria – Nsukka Faculty of Medical Sciences

The University of Nigeria – Nsukka (UNN) is the first autonomous institution in Nigeria. It is modeled after the American educational system. UNN is located in Enugu state.

Its Faculty of Medical Sciences was opened in 1966, although schooling could only begin in 1970 when the civil war ended. In 1984, its Faculty of Medical Sciences was designated as a full-fledged College of Medicine. The University of Nigeria currently enrolls about 150 students yearly.  Students begin the medicine program by taking pre-medicine courses in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. This is followed by basic science/pre-clinical education. The last 3 years are dedicated to clinical learning. After being awarded the MBBS degree, students are deployed for a 12-month internship program. This is a requirement in order for students to be promoted as unsupervised medical officers.

University of Ilorin College of Health Sciences

The University of Ilorin is a federal university that was founded in 1975 and is based in Kwara State, Nigeria. It is one of the largest federal institutions in the country. Its College of Health Sciences was founded in 1977 (2 years after the university was established). Its College of Health Sciences was established in order to bridge the gap between pre-clinical and clinical education. The school runs a program called the Community Based Experience and Services (COBES) which is required to be observed by its medicine students. The program has earned university recognition from both the World Health Organization and the Network of Community-Based Medical Schools.

Delta State University

Delta State University (DELSU) is a state-owned institution based in Abraka. DELSU was founded in 1992 and has 3 campuses in Abraka, Asaka, and Oleh. Its Medicine program is run on the Abraka campus.

The first part of its medicine program is taught under the Department of Basic Medical Science. The second part of the program is under the Department of Clinical Science. Under the Department of Clinical Science, students are taught about the fundamentals of Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Surgery, and Psychiatry, etc. The last year of Medicine school is dedicated to a tour of duty at the Delta State University Teaching Hospital.

Niger Delta University College of Health Sciences

Niger Delta University was established in the year 2000. This makes it one of the country’s youngest educational institutions. The university is funded by the state of Bayelsa. It has 3 campuses, one of which is the College of Health Sciences. Medicine students start with fundamental courses in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. After this, they move on to courses under the Department of Clinical Sciences where they are taught courses in the fields of Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, and Psychiatry. The medical program is taught through various teaching methods, such as lectures, study groups, workshops, seminars, and conferences.

Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma

Ambrose Alli University is a state-owned university located in Edo state. It has one of the top medical schools in Nigeria. It boasts of producing some of the best set of Nigerian Doctors since its commencement of duties. Presently, the school only awards a degree in Medical Physiology and Medical Laboratory Sciences.

Bayero University Kano

Bayero University, Kano (BUK) is a federal university that was established in 1976. The University is reputed to be one of the top quality Medical schools in Nigeria. In fact, many people go to this University to be a part of the medical program at all costs. Many doctors based in the northern part of Nigeria graduated from Bayero University.

 

 

52 thoughts on “10 Best Medical Schools in Nigeria”

  1. There is a huge mistake there, or rather two huge mistakes.
    1, Delsu is one of d worst medical schools in Nigeria. Its already lost irs accrediting in medicine.
    2, Niger Delta University is the exact opposite of Unillorin. It can strike and delay ur medical course. They strike a lot

    • Next time when you’re giving your opinion about this stuff know more about it and not based on what you’ve heard. I’m a medical student at Delta State University and their teaching hospital which is cooperating with a foreign University recently performed a renal transplant successfully and more, so it’s you who should do more research on good universities.

  2. Op may not hav heard of mbbs jos. I aint say ur research is incomplete. Definitely i dont know the criteria for d ranking. But u must not judge the beauty of a house by looking at it walls alone. I know ui n abu, but wat of ndu nd dsu? Beware of schools that r still basking in their former glories! I aint mentionin names! Also some school in ur list can rush stds until they r exellent in theories n poor in the practice . Gbam.

  3. That ranking is wrong because we all know that Olabisi Onabanjo University formerly Ogun State University has always been and they still produce the best medical doctors in Nigeria. I think people should try and make enquiries from professionals in related field when rankings like this are to be done.

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