Despite Hurdles, UNIMED Vows to Uphold Excellence, Aims for Top Three Ranking in Nigeria – VC Adejuyigbe

The University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo, is poised to defy prevailing challenges to sustain and elevate its standards, with the newly appointed Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ebunoluwa Aderonke Adejuyigbe, expressing firm resolve to steer the institution to become one of the top three universities in Nigeria. Professor Adejuyigbe, who recently assumed office as the third substantive and first female VC, made this assertion on Monday, July 28, 2025, during an address to newsmen at her office on the university campus.

Professor Adejuyigbe acknowledged the significant hurdles facing Nigerian higher education, including the pervasive “Japa syndrome” (brain drain) leading to a shortage of lecturers and health workers, as well as internal interpersonal dynamics and infrastructural deficits, particularly the absence of a fully developed permanent site.

“Without challenges, I’m not sure that anybody can move forward. Challenges have to come at every stage. There are challenges here,” Professor Adejuyigbe stated. She, however, emphasized that these challenges would not deter UNIMED from maintaining its position as Nigeria’s leading specialized medical university and a trailblazer in health education and medical innovation.

To counter the impact of the “Japa syndrome,” the VC outlined a strategic approach focused on increasing the output of medical professionals. “Our goal is to produce more doctors, more health workers, therapists, nurses, and medical engineers,” she explained. “Because the more we produce them, at least even if 10 percent stays, 10 percent of a large number will be a large number for us to use.” She also highlighted plans to leverage more adjunct lecturers and improve telemedicine capabilities, enabling remote teaching to reduce operational costs and mitigate staff shortages.

Addressing the issue of infrastructure, Professor Adejuyigbe confirmed that work is ongoing at the university’s permanent site, expressing optimism for a move there within a few months, which would resolve the logistical complexities of managing students scattered across various hostels. She stressed that despite these infrastructural concerns, the quality of students and courses remained UNIMED’s strength.

Professor Adejuyigbe pledged that her administration would prioritize strengthening academic and research programmes, enhancing staff welfare and capacity development, deepening industry and community partnerships, and continually improving the overall student experience. She reiterated her commitment to fostering an environment defined by transparency, fairness, and responsible leadership to address internal challenges.

As Nigeria’s first specialized University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED has consistently been recognized for its academic prowess, having been ranked as the third-best specialized institution by the National Universities Commission (NUC). Professor Adejuyigbe’s vision is to not only sustain this legacy but to elevate UNIMED to global prominence as a leading centre of excellence in medical and health sciences education and research.