The Regional Director, Africa, for St. George’s University (SGU), Grenada, West Indies, Mr. Bradley Wade, on a working visit to Covenant University, stated the readiness of SGU to partner with the best private university in Nigeria towards increasing the numbers of medical doctors produced by the University.
Mr. Wade made this known during a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor and members of management at Covenant, saying SGU is interested in a friendly collaboration and academic partnership between both institutions. He said the proposed partnership will see students in life sciences programmes at Covenant University having the opportunity to apply to a four-year degree programme at SGU at the end of their first-degree programme, which will be considered pre-clinical years of medical studies.
Mr. Wade, who came in the company of the SGU’s Regional Manager, West Africa, Utibe-Abasi Ekpe, said the partnership will enable both parties to vet and review the curriculum of programmes eligible for the pre-clinical years’ exemptions, thus setting the stage for learning medicine.
In addition, the partnership will provide a support system for the academic scheme of biochemistry and biological science programmes at Covenant University, help prepare undergraduates for admission into the SGU medical programme, and create the necessary pathway for their medical programme at SGU.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun H. Adebayo, appreciated SGU for deeming Covenant University a worthy academic learning institution to collaborate with in training medical practitioners that will make up the dearth of doctors around the world.
Professor Adebayo said the proposition from SGU is worth looking at and assured them of the readiness of Covenant University to work with them in making the partnership a successful enterprise. "I hope a partnership agreement can be worked out quickly, having it at the back of our minds that Covenant University’s medical school will be coming on board in a short while," he enthused.
Professor Adebayo commended SGU for being part of the last international and education career fair held in Covenant, noting that it was the first indicator that both institutions can do great things together.
The meeting had in attendance the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olujide Adekeye; Acting Registrar, Mrs. Regina Tobi-David; Director, Financial Services, Pastor Olugbenga Kiki; Director, Vice-Chancellor’s Office, Professor Omotayo Osibanjo; Director, Covenant University’s Centre for Research, Innovation, and Discovery, Professor Kolawole Ajanaku.
Others are, Director, International Office and Linkages, Dr. Isaac Akinwunmi; Head, Department of Biological Science, Professor Solomon Oranusi; and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Professor Israel Afolabi.