By George Ozalla
The newly established Transatlantic University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Umuchukwu, Anambra State, has received its operational licence from the National Universities Commission (NUC), clearing the way for the institution to commence academic activities and admit students into its approved academic programmes.
The operational licence was formally presented on Friday at the headquarters of the National Universities Commission in Abuja by the Executive Secretary of the Commission, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, to the university’s founder, Dr. Godwin Maduka, following the successful completion of the Commission’s rigorous assessment and accreditation process.
The approval marks a significant milestone for the institution, which has been described as a major investment aimed at redefining medical education, scientific research and healthcare training in Nigeria and across Africa.
With the licence, the university is expected to begin admissions into three faculties offering a total of 17 accredited academic programmes, paving the way for the commencement of full academic operations.
Presenting the licence, Professor Ribadu congratulated the management and promoters of the university for meeting the statutory requirements prescribed by the Commission for the establishment and operation of a private university in Nigeria.
He noted that the National Universities Commission remains committed to safeguarding quality assurance in the nation’s university system by ensuring that only institutions that satisfy prescribed standards are licensed to operate.
According to him, the Commission will continue to uphold high academic standards while strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system to make it globally competitive through effective regulation, accreditation and continuous monitoring.
Responding, the founder of the institution, Dr. Godwin Maduka, expressed gratitude to the National Universities Commission for the confidence reposed in the university, describing the approval as a defining moment not only for Anambra State but also for Nigeria’s healthcare education sector.
Maduka, a United States-based physician, pain management specialist and philanthropist, said the university was established with a clear vision of producing globally competitive healthcare professionals while advancing scientific research capable of addressing Africa’s unique health challenges.
He stated that beyond training future doctors and other healthcare professionals, the institution would serve as a centre for cutting-edge research, innovation and technological advancement in medicine.
The founder expressed confidence that the university would significantly improve healthcare delivery, stimulate economic growth within the host community through employment generation, and provide young Nigerians with access to quality education and rewarding career opportunities in the health sector.
He also disclosed that one of the institution’s unique areas of focus would be the development and scientific exploration of Africa’s traditional medicine, describing it as an area in which he has maintained strong professional interest throughout his medical career.
According to Maduka, the university intends to promote evidence-based research into African traditional medicine with a view to integrating validated indigenous medical knowledge into modern healthcare practice and expanding research opportunities in that field.
Also speaking, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of the university and former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone, described the licensing of the institution as the beginning of a new chapter in medical education, health research and human capital development on the African continent.
Professor Esimone said the university had assembled an impressive team of distinguished medical professionals, researchers and academics drawn from different parts of the world to deliver world-class teaching, research, innovation and professional mentorship.
He said the institution was determined to produce graduates equipped with the knowledge, practical skills and ethical values required to compete favourably in the global healthcare industry.
Observers at the ceremony noted that with both the founder, Dr. Maduka, and the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Esimone, being accomplished professors of pharmacy with distinguished international careers, the university is well positioned to establish itself as a centre of excellence in medical education, pharmaceutical sciences, research and capacity development for future generations of healthcare professionals.
The institution also boasts state-of-the-art infrastructure, including what is reputed to be Africa’s tallest medical university and research centre, equipped with modern laboratories, advanced teaching facilities and contemporary medical equipment designed to support quality learning, research and healthcare innovation.
Education stakeholders believe the commencement of academic activities at the university will further expand access to specialised medical education in Nigeria, strengthen research capacity and contribute to the production of highly skilled professionals needed to address the country’s growing healthcare demands while positioning Anambra State as an emerging hub for medical education and scientific research in Africa.
