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The First Graduating Set of Medical Doctors from University College, Ibadan, 1951

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In 1951, Nigeria marked a defining milestone in its educational and healthcare history: the graduation of the first set of medical doctors trained locally at University College, Ibadan (UCI). This historic event symbolized the beginning of self-reliance in medical training, reducing dependence on British institutions, and laying the groundwork for modern medical education in the country.

The Birth of Medical Training in Nigeria

University College, Ibadan, was established in 1948 as the country’s first university-level institution. It began as an affiliate of the University of London, which supervised its curriculum and examinations to ensure international standards. Among its earliest faculties was the Faculty of Medicine, designed specifically to address the shortage of indigenous doctors in colonial Nigeria.

Before this development, Nigerians who aspired to practice medicine had to study abroad, mostly in Britain. Notable pioneers such as Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole (1892–1953) trained overseas, often at great personal and financial cost. The establishment of UCI’s medical school changed this dynamic permanently.

The First Seven Medical Doctors

In 1951, only seven students successfully completed the rigorous program to become the first medical graduates trained in Nigeria. This small but groundbreaking group included:

Dr. Ishaya Audu, later the first professor of medicine from Northern Nigeria, Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States.

Dr. Olajide Akinoso, who went on to make significant contributions in medical practice and public health.

Several others who would rise to prominence in clinical medicine, education, and administration.
Though small in number, this cohort represented a turning point in the nation’s history.

Significance of the 1951 Graduation

This graduation was not merely ceremonial; it was revolutionary. For the first time, Nigeria had produced its own cadre of doctors within its borders, trained to the same standards as their British counterparts. The development gave Nigeria confidence in its capacity to sustain higher education and professional training locally.

It also reflected the colonial government’s recognition of the need to indigenize the health sector at a time when infectious diseases, maternal mortality, and shortages of healthcare workers posed urgent national challenges.

Ishaya Audu: A Pioneering Figure

Among the seven, Dr. Ishaya Audu stood out as a trailblazer. Beyond his medical career, he became a statesman and educator, embodying the multiple roles that graduates of that first set would go on to play in Nigeria’s development. His journey illustrated how the medical profession could serve as a springboard for leadership in other national spheres.

From University College, Ibadan to the University of Ibadan

It is important to note that in 1951, the institution was still University College, Ibadan (UCI), functioning under the University of London. Full autonomy came later in 1962, when it was renamed the University of Ibadan (UI), becoming Nigeria’s first independent university. The medical school that began with seven graduates now produces hundreds of doctors annually and remains one of Africa’s foremost training centers.

Legacy

The 1951 graduates were more than pioneers—they were nation-builders. They helped establish the credibility of Nigerian medical education, mentored subsequent generations, and shaped healthcare policies in the decades that followed.

Today, their legacy lives on in the University of Ibadan’s College of Medicine, which stands as a leading institution for research, clinical training, and innovation in Africa. The journey that began with seven doctors in 1951 has now produced thousands, ensuring that the vision of self-reliance in healthcare continues to thrive.

Sources
University of Ibadan Archives

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Education

PHOTOS: 200-level Niger State varsity d!es after collapsing in her off-campus residence

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A 200 level student of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, Niger State, has d!ed after collapsing in her off-campus lodge.

The deceased, identified as Adamu Fatima Muhammad, with matriculation number U23/FNS/BCH/1093, was a student of the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences.

Eye Witnesses said Fatima suddenly fell ill at her residence outside the university campus in Lapai and was rushed to the General Hospital, Lapai, where she was later confirmed d3ad.

According to the source, the deceased had earlier lost both parents and was living with her guardian in Suleja, Niger State, alongside her only surviving brother.

“She was a humble and dedicated student. Her passing is a tragedy that has thrown the entire university community into mourning,” the source said.

Fatima was buried in Lapai on Monday according to Islamic rites.

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Education

PHOTOS: School collapse in Indonesia leaves three de@d, 38 missing

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At least three students have been k!lled and dozens are missing following the collapse of an Islamic boarding school in Indonesia’s East Java province, authorities have said.

National Search and Rescue Agency head Mohammad Syafii said as of 12.30pm (0530 GMT) on Tuesday, “the number of victims is 102 people, consisting of 99 survivors, 3 deaths”.

Rescuers are searching for 38 people believed to be trapped under the rubble following the building collapse, the National Agency for Disaster Management said.

Eleven people have been rescued from the rubble, and 91 others managed to escape, the disaster management agency said.

Seventy-seven victims were taken to several hospitals in the area for treatment for their injuries, according to the agency.

“Efforts to assess the site, monitor the remaining building structure, and prepare evacuation routes for victims are the primary focus of the teams on the ground,” the agency said in a statement on social media.

The agency added that the incident called attention to the need for the “strict implementation of construction safety standards”.

“The public and managers of multistorey buildings are urged to ensure technical supervision during construction to prevent similar occurrences in the future,” it said.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, a separate body, had earlier reported that “provisional data” indicated that 100 students were caught up in the collapse, of whom all but one had been located alive.

Al-Khoziny Islamic Boarding School, in Sidoarjo, East Java, collapsed at about 3pm on Monday as students were gathering for afternoon prayers.

Authorities say the school’s foundation pillars gave way as crews were concreting the fourth floor of the building, trapping dozens of people under debris.

The incident is the second building collapse in Indonesia in less than a month.

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Education

NELFUND closes 2024/2025 loan portal, sets timeline for next application

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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund said the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday.

The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday.

Sawyerr said this was to allow the Fund to conclude processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.

He also announced timelines for the 2025/2026 academic cycle, in line with its mandate to expand access to higher education through interest-free student loans.

According to him, the loan portal will reopen in the second week of October for fresh applications and remain open until January 2026.

”NELFUND remains committed to removing financial barriers for students and working with institutions to ensure that no eligible student is left behind.

“These timelines provide clarity for students, parents, and institutions to plan and participate fully in the process,” Sawyerr said.

The managing director directed institutions to update their students’ records on the Student Verification System to enable applicants access the scheme.

He added that all unverified applications for 2024/2025 would be automatically cancelled after Oct. 8, noting that students affected would be required to reapply under the new session.

He warned that institutions that failed to verify students’ records risk being publicly listed for non-compliance.

On upkeep stipends, Sawyerr explained that the payment for the 2024/2025 session would continue until November, adding that students were expected to reapply for 2025/2026 to continue receiving payments.

On repayment terms, he reiterated that the scheme remained interest-free while repayment would begin two years after completion of the National Youth Service Corps, with employers mandated to deduct 10 per cent of beneficiaries’ salaries.

He further expressed concern over arbitrary hikes in tuition and ancillary fees by some institutions, noting that a committee set up by the Minister of Education is working with regulators to harmonise and standardise fee structures across institutions.

Responding to concerns about upkeep stipends, he said the current ₦20,000 monthly allowance would not be increased immediately.

Sawyerr said an ongoing review of cost-of-living indices across different regions could however lead to weighted adjustments in future.

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