By Seyi Odewale
A new private university, Regnum Medical University, Anthony Village, Lagos, has commenced admissions into six medical and allied health programmes following its licensing by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The university, which received its licence to operate as a private university following approval by the Federal Executive Council, is expected to contribute to efforts to address Nigeria’s shortage of medical and healthcare professionals.
Regnum Medical University will commence academic activities with programmes in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.), Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS), Physiotherapy (DPT) and Radiography (B.Rad.).
The institution said its programmes were carefully designed to respond to the country’s growing need for competent healthcare professionals, particularly general practitioners.
The formal licence was presented by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, and members of the Commission’s management team to Prof. Akin Osibogun, Chairman of the Planning and Implementation Committee that supervised the development of the university.
Also present were Akinbode Agbaoye, Chairman of the university’s Board of Trustees, and Chuks Ochonogor, Proprietor of Regnum Medical University.
The university said the licensing marked a major milestone in its efforts to establish a world-class institution focused on medical education and the development of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
Prof. Osibogun, a Professor of Community Health and experienced medical educator, will serve as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the university.
He previously served as Chief Medical Director of Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for eight years, from 2006 to 2014, and was President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria in 2022/2023.
He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Medical Association (FNMA), the highest honour conferred by the association on its members, as well as a Fellow by examination of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (FMPCH) and Fellow of the West African College of Physicians (FWACP).
In January 2026, the University of Lagos appointed him a Distinguished Professor. He has also been honoured as a Distinguished Fellow of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Agbaoye, is a former Deputy Executive Secretary of the NUC. He retired from the Commission after attaining the highest position of his career there.
The university said his experience in university regulation and administration would be deployed to provide strategic direction and ensure that the institution meets the required standards for medical education.
According to the university, Regnum Medical University plans to attract “a cream of trainers in the medical and health professions” and deploy innovative technologies in training healthcare professionals.
It said the goal was to produce “highly competent and compassionate health professionals” capable of making meaningful contributions to the development of healthcare systems in Nigeria and globally.
The institution added that its programmes would combine professional training with innovation and modern technology to prepare graduates for the evolving demands of healthcare delivery.
With Nigeria facing a persistent shortage of doctors and other healthcare professionals, the university said it hoped to play a role in expanding the country’s pool of trained medical personnel.
It said the commencement of its medical programmes represented its contribution to building “tomorrow’s efficient healthcare services providers today”, while strengthening the capacity of Nigeria’s health system.
