NUC Approves Second State-Owned University in Enugu

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has validated the institution of the Enugu State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS).

The license for the establishment was issued on Thursday in Abuja.

This comes after the regulation of the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences (SUMAS) Law on April 13.

The University will be instituted at Igbo-Eno, Enugu State.

Executive Secretary of the NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, hailed the state for the establishment of the SUMAS.

Reacting to the institution of the university, Prof. Malachy Okwueze, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi thanked Gov. Ugwuanyi for achieving this mission.

“He has provided the platform for increased access to quality university education for our teeming youths who struggle year after year to gain admission into the university.

“These youths usually end up without fulfilling their desires and dreams for university education.’’

Okwueze said it was particularly worse in the quest to study medicine.

“The Enugu State University of Science and Technology receives more than 2,000 applications annually from our youths to study medicine.

“Only a paltry 50 applicants are offered admission to study medicine at the end.

“Even the University of Nigeria Nsukka, the federal university in Enugu State, offers only about 180 candidates admission into medicine dashing the dreams of thousands of our youths every year.

“And this is in spite of the deficit in the number of doctors and nurses required to optimise medical and healthcare services for our people,’’ he said.

Okwueze maintained that the state government is prepared for the sustainable funding of the new university.

According to the license, SUMAS is the second university owned by Enugu State.