BRIEF HISTORY
The Faculty of Medical Sciences of University of Nigeria was established in 1966. However, formal training of medical students did not start until 1970 (after the Nigerian civil war) when the pioneer Dean, Prof. Gilbert Onuaguluchi admitted the first batch of students. Initially the medical school operated under the laws of the then Eastern Region and East Central state of Nigeria. This standing changed in 1978 with the promulgation of the status Number-2 of the University of Nigeria Act by the Federal Government of Nigeria, and formally established the Faculty of Medical sciences as an integral part of the University of Nigeria.
The Faculty has been piloted since its inception by an impressive array of astute Deans viz: Prof. Gilbert Onuaguluchi (1966 – 1972), Prof. Chukwuedu Nwokolo (1972 – 1975), Prof. O L V Ekpechi (1975 – 1978), Prof. Festus Nwako (1978 – 1980), Prof. Raymond Anikwe (1980 – 1982), Prof. Samuel Ohaegbulam (1982 – 1984), Prof. David Nwafo (1984 1986), Prof. Wilson Onuigbo (1986 – 1988), Prof. Benson Okafor (1988 – 1990), Prof. Uchenna Megafu (1990 – 1992), Dr. Winifred Kaine (1992 – 1994), Prof. Herbert Ihezue (1994 – 1996), Prof. Benjamin Umerah (1996 – 1998), Prof. Martin Aghaji (1998 – 2000), Prof. Bede Ibe (2000 – 2002), Prof. Benjamin Ozumba (2002 – 2004), Prof. Rich Umeh (2004 – 2006), Prof. Aloy Aghaji (2006 – 2008), Ven. Prof. Ernest Onwasigwe (2008 – 2010), Ven. Prof. Felix Ezepue (2010 – 2012), Prof. Basil Ezeanolue (2012 – 2014), Prof. Uchenna Nwagha (2014 – 2016), Prof. Uzo Ezegwui (2016 – 2018). The current Dean is Prof. Sebastian Ekenze, a Professor of Paediatric surgery. The associate Deans are Dr. Ikenna Nnabugwu (Clinical), and Dr. Euzebus Ezugwu (Preclinical).
Under the leadership of these astute persons, the Faculty has grown from strength to strength. The students’ population has increased from the initial intake of sixty (60) students to the current situation where we graduate one hundred and eighty (180) students yearly. The number of Departments also increased from the initial four to the current seventeen (4 – 17). In 1984, the University of Nigeria Act was further amended to establish the College of Medicine. The College of Medicine coordinated the activities of the Faculty, and later on that of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology. Over time, the Faculty midwifed the establishment of Faculty of Dentistry and later the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. Currently, the College of Medicine has four Faculties viz Faculty of Medical Sciences; Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology; Faculty of Dentistry; and Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences.
DEPARTMENTS
The Faculty is made up of seventeen Departments and the Deans office. The Departments include
- Anaesthesia
- Chemical Pathology
- Community Medicine
- Dermatology
- Haematology/Immunology
- Medical Microbiology
- Medicine
- Morbid Anatomy
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Ophthalmology
- Otolaryngology
- Paediatrics
- Paediatric Surgery
- Pharmacology & Therapeutics
- Psychological Medicine
- Radiation Medicine
- Surgery