Speaking at a briefing on Tuesday ahead of the university’s maiden matriculation ceremony scheduled for Thursday, Arogundade highlighted the substantial cost of running a university, emphasizing that it should not fall solely on the government.
He lauded President Bola Tinubu for establishing specialised universities of medical sciences across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, noting that the initiative would boost the country’s health workforce and improve healthcare delivery. According to the VC, such interventions are also expected to curb the “Japa syndrome” by increasing the number of trained health professionals annually.
FUMMSA, following a successful resource verification, was awarded a carrying capacity of 1,000 students, with over 850 pioneer students admitted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board set to be formally inducted on Thursday. The university currently offers programmes in Nursing Science, Medicine, Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, and Medical Laboratory Science, among others.
Currently operating from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) campus, FUMMSA plans to relocate to its permanent 170-hectare site at Ajibayo town, along the Idi Aba–Ajebo Road, which is still under construction. The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that regulatory bodies — including the National Universities Commission, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, and Pharmacy Council of Nigeria — require the permanent site to be adequately developed for academic activities within the next few months to secure accreditation for its eight faculties over the next two years.
While acknowledging strong support from federal and state governments and prominent indigenes, Arogundade stressed that more contributions are needed to ensure the rapid development of the university. He said the institution will welcome endowments, donations, and equipment, which can be named after donors if desired. He added that hostels will be developed through a public-private partnership model in the near future.
On the university’s philosophy, the VC stated, “Medical education is not merely the transmission of skills but a fusion of intellect, empathy, and innovation.” He explained that FUMMSA aims to train healthcare professionals capable of addressing national and global health challenges through technology-driven, creative solutions, guided by the principle that knowledge is most powerful when it heals and serves.
Arogundade commended President Tinubu, the Ogun State Government, FUNAAB Vice-Chancellor Prof. Olusola Kehinde, and the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, for their support in ensuring the smooth take-off of the university and called for continued cooperation from all stakeholders to help the institution fulfil its vision.
The call for support comes amid ongoing challenges facing government-owned universities in Nigeria, including underfunding, inadequate infrastructure, and high student-to-lecturer ratios, which have frequently led to academic disruptions due to lecturers’ strikes demanding better funding for higher education.