Ondo Assembly holds public hearing to formalise UNIMED’s name change
The Ondo State House of Assembly on Wednesday held a crucial public hearing to discuss the proposed amendment of the law establishing the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.
Speaker of the Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, emphasised that UNIMED, as the pride of the state, deserved a legal name change to properly reflect its growing stature. Oladiji noted that when the university was initially established, it was named Ondo State University of Medical Sciences (OSUMS), but the name “University of Medical Sciences” had never been officially recognised by the Assembly.
This discrepancy, according to Oladiji, has led to challenges for graduates seeking recognition by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and has deprived the institution of certain benefits.
“If this amendment is not made, graduates may face serious issues when attempting to use their certificates, and that would render the effort of the institution futile,” Oladiji said.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIMED, Professor Adesegun Fatusi, reiterated the need for the change, pointing out that graduates had encountered difficulties in presenting their certificates both locally and internationally.
Fatusi explained that the original legal papers that established the university referred to it as OSUMS, a name that still appears on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) websites, complicating matters for UNIMED alumni.
“The major reason we need the name to be legally recognised as UNIMED is that some of our graduates are facing problems when they present their certificates, especially when checking the JAMB website, where the university’s name is still listed as OSUMS,” Fatusi said.
Chris Aiyebusiwa, Chairman of the House Committee on Tertiary Institutions, assured the public that the committee had thoroughly reviewed the bill and understood its importance.
He emphasised the need for extensive stakeholder involvement to ensure the amendments were appropriate and enduring, adding that the bill required careful consideration given its implications.
The public hearing highlighted the collaborative effort between the state government, the university, and stakeholders to ensure that the name change would strengthen the institution’s credibility and provide long-term benefits for both the university and its graduates.
