Senate moves to upgrade federal college of medical laboratory science and technology, Jos to university status.

By Divine Sam

Senate Moves to Upgrade Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos to University Status

The Senate on Tuesday recorded another milestone in Nigeria’s healthcare and tertiary education sector as the bill seeking the establishment of the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, Plateau State, was presented for concurrence during plenary presided over by the Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Barau I. Jibrin.

The proposed legislation, titled Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos (Establishment) Bill, 2026 (HB. 2089), was presented by the Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), as part of the day’s legislative business.

The bill seeks to upgrade the Federal College of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, into Nigeria’s first specialised Federal University dedicated to medical laboratory science, biomedical research and allied technological disciplines.

The proposed upgrade marks a significant achievement for the institution under the leadership of its Provost and Chief Executive Officer, Professor Nkereuwem Sunday Etukudoh, whose administration has overseen remarkable academic and infrastructural developments in recent years. Professor Etukudoh has consistently advocated for the university status of the institution, maintaining that the College already possesses the academic and professional capacity required to function as a specialised university.

Under his leadership, the institution has expanded its academic programmes, strengthened research activities and positioned itself as a centre for specialised healthcare education and training. The College has also received commendation from federal lawmakers during oversight visits for its prudent management of resources and infrastructural transformation.

If passed by the National Assembly and subsequently assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the institution will become a degree-awarding Federal University, significantly expanding opportunities for specialised training of medical laboratory scientists and healthcare professionals in Nigeria and beyond.

The establishment of the Federal University of Medical Laboratory Science and Technology, Jos, is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system by producing highly skilled manpower for medical diagnostics, biomedical innovation and scientific research, while positioning the country as a leading destination for specialised medical laboratory science education in Africa.

Stakeholders have described the bill as a timely and strategic intervention that aligns with the Federal Government’s agenda of strengthening tertiary education and improving healthcare outcomes through specialised institutions.

The concurrence process by the Senate represents another crucial step towards the realisation of a long-standing aspiration of the institution’s management, staff, students and alumni, who have championed the transition from a specialised college to a world-class university.

With the bill now before the Senate, Nigerians within the medical laboratory science profession are optimistic that the institution will soon attain full university status, ushering in a new era of excellence in healthcare education, research and innovation.