University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

University of Ilesa, Osun State

University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

The University of Ilesa, Osun State, has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 97 academic programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, in what officials describe as a major milestone in the institution’s rapid transformation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing held on campus to mark the university’s progress since its upgrade from the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, in April 2023.

He said the institution has also recorded significant growth in student population, rising from fewer than 1,000 students at inception to over 15,000 within three years.

Professor Asaolu explained that the approved programmes cut across multiple faculties and disciplines, including Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Chinese Studies, and Special Education.

He added that the NUC has also approved the commencement of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, although final clearance is still being awaited from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before full admission into the programme begins.

According to him, “40 of our academic programmes currently enjoy full accreditation status from the NUC,” describing the achievement as remarkable for a young institution.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced that a new Faculty of Technology has been established, with programmes in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering already underway.

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He said the institution’s expansion reflects growing public confidence in its academic standards and infrastructure development.

Professor Asaolu revealed that the university has successfully recovered 15 acres of land and 24 housing units previously encroached upon by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. He said the recovered land will be used for the development of a Faculty of Technology complex.

He also disclosed that Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the upgrade of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, into the University of Ilesa Teaching Hospital to support clinical training and improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university inherited dilapidated infrastructure at take-off, including obsolete buildings, low student population, and poor environmental conditions, but said it has now recorded a “significant turnaround.”

He credited key stakeholders including TETFund, NELFUND, the Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, the Ijesa community, Zenith Bank Plc, and other donors for supporting ongoing development projects across the campus.

Professor Asaolu highlighted several infrastructural achievements, including an 18-hole golf course that recently hosted the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) 15th Qualifying School Seminar.

On academic reforms, he said the university has made programmes in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture tuition-free, while staff wards enjoy a 50 per cent tuition discount to encourage professionalism in teaching.

He added that UNILESA has established an Integrated Teaching and Research Farm featuring a cattle ranch, fish ponds, poultry facilities, and agro-processing units, designed to provide practical training for students.

Students are also receiving hands-on vocational training in 13 skill areas, including solar energy installation, Adire textile production, digital content creation, and agribusiness.

On staff welfare, the Vice-Chancellor praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for resolving long-standing labour issues, including the conversion of over 300 temporary staff into permanent positions and the payment of more than ₦3 billion in outstanding allowances to staff, retirees, and families of deceased workers.

He also commended the governor for approving the reconstruction of access roads within the university, which had reportedly been in poor condition for nearly two decades.

Professor Asaolu said students of the institution have continued to excel in academics, sports, and professional examinations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where some students have already progressed significantly.

He further noted that the university has hosted international conferences, its first inaugural lecture in March 2026, and a Distinguished Personality Lecture delivered by Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the National Revenue Service.

Despite the progress, he identified challenges such as inadequate student accommodation, unstable electricity supply, and a shortage of lecture halls and laboratories.

“We are encouraged by the progress recorded thus far and are determined to sustain and surpass it,” he said, appreciating all stakeholders involved in the development of the institution.