By John Mkom

The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) have granted full accreditation to Taraba State University (TSU), Jalingo, to formally graduate students from its Department of Medical Laboratory Science.

TSU's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sunday Bako, shared this milestone in an exclusive interview, emphasizing that the accreditation resolves previous issues around certification and indexing for the department’s students. With this accreditation, TSU is now authorized to conduct practical examinations in collaboration with the MLSCN, allowing for a smooth graduation process.

To date, TSU has produced 1,116 graduates from its medical laboratory science department across the 2021, 2022, and 2023 graduating classes. Once fully certified, these graduates are expected to make a substantial impact in the state's health sector.

Professor Bako confirmed that MLSCN has started the indexing process for students, a crucial step toward their upcoming certification exams. He urged recent graduates to prepare for these practical exams, scheduled to take place within a few weeks and conducted by MLSCN directly at TSU. 

“Our medical laboratory science department has secured full accreditation from NUC and MLSCN. Unlike many other fields, our students must complete a practical certification examination, overseen by the council, before graduating from the university,” Prof. Bako explained.

He highlighted that the program, launched in 2018, operated initially without accreditation, but the university has now resolved these issues. The students’ documentation is complete, and they are awaiting certification exams.

To ease the certification process, the university arranged for MLSCN to conduct exams directly in Jalingo, rather than in Abuja, to accommodate the large number of students from three graduating classes.

Professor Bako reassured students and parents of the institution's commitment to upholding academic standards and providing graduates with valuable, recognized qualifications to serve their careers and the greater societal good.

Source: LEADERSHIP