BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FACULTY OF CLINICAL SCIENCES
The Faculty of Medicine was one of the foundation faculties created when the University College, Ibadan came into being in 1948. The fundamental problem which faced the Faculty in the early stages of its existence was securing wide recognition and establishing high academic and professional standard.
The alignment of the Medical School of University College Ibadan in special relation with the University of London helped to attract the recognition of the General Medical Council of Great Britain. By this special relationship, medical students of the University College Ibadan took courses in Medicine leading to the award of the MB;BS degree of the University of London.
Fourteen years of close association with the University of London which initially involved clinical clerkship in London enabled the then Faculty of Medicine of the University College Ibadan to lay down the high standards which will later be associated with the University of Ibadan and to define the deficiencies of the traditional University of London programme in relation to the peculiarities of the Nigerian situation. This association which was known as the “Scheme of Special Relationship” with the University of London came to an end in October 1962. The University of Ibadan from then started preparing students for its own MB;BS degree. It then became necessary for the then Faculty of Medicine to design a curriculum for the training of students for the environment in which they would have to practice. Some of the notable features of the Ibadan curriculum are the Ibarapa Community Health Project and the unique community Psychiatry rotation to Aro Neuro Psychiatric Hospital. Modifications to the University of London programme resulted in changes to the structure of the professional examination whereby Paediatrics and Preventive and Social Medicine constitute separate examination subjects.
Why our programme has been so successful
Our success is based on the implementation of our programmes that are being driven by highly qualified, dedicated and motivated personnel who deliver the unique academic and professional programmes of the Faculty. Inculcating professional discipline and ethics have made our students responsive and responsible and therefore leaders in their respective professional community. The success of our programmes is due to the fact that the Faculty continues to evaluate its programmes such that our Physiotherapy and Nursing programmes are now 5-year programmes and have been accredited by NUC.
Prospects for the future and plans to ensure that the high standard is maintained
The Faculty is not relenting in its efforts at maintaining and improving on its present standard. The Faculty is in the process of reviewing its MB;BS curriculum to ensure that the students imbibe values such as Health Economics, Bioethics and Human Resources Management that will enhance the unique training programme of the Ibadan graduate. Similarly, the Nursing and Physiotherapy undergraduate curricula are being reviewed.
Though the Faculty will benefit from improved man-power, the Faculty also ensures continuing professional education for its Academic Staff and provides improved teaching aids in a conducive environment. The Faculty is grateful to many multilateral agencies that ensure that this internal and external continuing professional development is possible. The Faculty will continue to explore ways of links programmes with external competences and funding sources.
The Faculty is the largest in the College of Medicine and it is staffed with efficient teachers. Apart from this, our Departments have equipment for training medical students and the environment is conducive to learning with teaching aids.
