‘We are ready to learn from you’, BMU VC tells Okonofua’
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo City, Ondo State, Prof. Friday Okonofua, FAS, FAAS on Monday received guests from the Bayelsa Medical University, BMU, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

A high-powered delegation from BMU, which was established about nine months ago, was led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ebitimitula Etebu and other principal officers of the institution.

Prof. Etebu said he has heard about the success story of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, under the distinguished leadership of the VC, Prof. Friday Okonofua, hence the visit of the team.

He revealed that the Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, is aware and in support of the team's visit to UNIMED, as it became necessary to tap into the knowledge and wealth of experience required in setting up and running a successful and specialized medical university.

Prof. Etebu said he is also looking for opportunities to explore possible areas of partnership, co-operations, collaborations, academic linkages and exchanges between BMU and UNIMED.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor UNIMED, Ondo, Prof. Friday Okonofua, identified various milestones recorded in less than four years since the establishment of the University while also lauding the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) and members of his cabinet for the support given to the institution. He said the establishment of UNIMED, the first of such in Nigeria and West Africa, has served as an eye-opener for others to see the benefits of having a university of Medical Sciences instead of a college of medicine that battles for meager available resources in the conventional university.

Prof. Okonofua advised the BMU team to focus on efforts aimed at accreditation of various courses offered in the fledgling institution, saying it will be impossible for the institution to survive without regulatory bodies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
He told the team to emulate the core values of the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo which has been given the acronym, TEA; T for Transparency, E for Effectiveness and A for Accountability. He said such mindset has contributed to the smooth running of the institution as there has been no record of student unrest or strike by members of staff since the University's establishment in 2015.
After a group photograph, the Bayelsa Medical University team visited various facilities in the university asking questions about the modus operandi of some departments and units.

Temitope Oluwatayo

Public Relations Department,

University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, Ondo