Medicine and surgery are among the courses with high job opportunities in Nigeria. Though with high job opportunities, all Nigerian universities are able to offer this course due to accreditation and facilities issues, which they are unable to meet.
Medicine and surgery are offered by both federal and state universities in Nigeria. With most federal Nigerian universities being the universities that offer medicine and surgery as courses in Nigeria. However, exceptions are not made for state universities that offer this course.
The number of state universities is not numerous; they are few in number, but amongst these few are the best. The others are up to par and standard, cause if not meeting the adequate standard, they can’t be granted accreditation, but they have not attained the quality the others have attained to be called the best.
There are currently 18 state universities that offer medicine and surgery in Nigeria. We will explore the best 7 of these state universities that produce quality and excellent service in education, in offering medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
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Best State Universities that offer medicine and Surgery in Nigeria and Their Cut-off Mark

1. Lagos State University (LASU)
Cut off mark: Over 250 JAMB Cut off mark
Lagos State University is one of the best. Topping the list as one of the best state universities to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria. LASU offers medicine and surgery under its College of Medical Science, Faculty of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine.
The university’s strong stance in medicine and surgery is what makes it the best. With modern facilities equipped with the latest laboratory equipment, in order to carry out practicals and to advance its students’ learning prospects.
As a student in the department. Curriculum activities include clinical, research, and teaching. Using various teaching methods, such as a grand tour in the Lagos teaching hospital, to bring the student to the world view experiment.
Other teaching methods used by the department of medicine in LASU include journal club activities where students get to interact with each other, departmental grand tours, and others. It is truly an institution that prioritizes practical teaching in medicine and surger, and that makes it the best among the best.
Students get to take their residency training in Lagos teaching hospital, thereby getting access to work with other medical doctors in the field.
2. Rivers State University(RSU)
Cut-off mark: over 250 JAMB cut-off mark
Located in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. River State University is one of the best state universities to study medicine. Standing among the top universities in Nigeria, like the University of Ibadan and the University of Ilorin(UNILORIN). It is one of the first technology universities established in Nigeria, as far as 1972.
The university, under the faculty of Basic Medical Sciences department of medicine and surgery, offers medicine and surgery, and in recent years, the institution has proved itself as one of the best state institutions to offer that course.
Recently accredited by MDCN, which also boosted the university’s morale in producing and offering the course. The institution’s facilities, which are dedicated to medical courses, include well well-equipped laboratory to meet today’s world standard.
Students also had access to the River State University, which provided practical training for their course, either for their residency training or other teaching organized by the faculty or department.
Medicine in the university is diversified, expanding to areas such as anatomical pathology, chemical pathology, and a lot of others.
3. Edo University, Iyamho (EDI)
Cut off mark: Above 250
Edo State Iyamho, popularly known for its acronym EDI, is a state university founded in 2016, formerly known as Edo University, Uzairue, before it was changed.
Edo University, Iyamho, appears to be the youngest state university to appear in the list as the best university to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria. The university is fully accredited and has even conferred its first set of medicine and surgery graduates in 2024.
It is a newly established university. The infrastructure is up to standard and meant to meet the current needs of the medicine and surgery students in the institution.
The university employs a diverse way and method of teaching methods to help the students learn better and faster. EDI is one of the first universities in Nigeria and across West Africa to adopt CANVAS, an LMS used by schools and universities to manage courses and assignments.
4. Ekit State University,Ado Ekiti (EKSU)
Cut-off mark: Over 250
Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, joins the list of the best state universities in the south-western part of the country that offer medicine and surgery.
Under the College of Medicine, the university currently offers medicine and surgery under the Faculty of Clinical Science Department of Medicine.
The fact that the university is not accredited should be debunked as the university got its full accreditation for medicine and surgery, and other medical courses as far back as 2015 years after the college of medicine was set up.
EKSU is known as the best state university due to an uninterrupted academic calendar, which can be prolonged due to an industrial strike or internal conflict within the institution.
The university also emphasizes the practical aspect of teaching, particularly to its medical science students.
5. Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka
In the eastern part of the country lies Delta State University(DELSU), which offers medicine and surgery as part of its core courses in the institution.
Fully accredited and well known in the field of medicine and surgery teaching across state universities in Nigeria. Having diverse fields in the area of medicine for students who want to study medicine in the institution.
For students who want to study medicine in the institution, they get the opportunity to study anatomic pathology, chemical pathology, morbid anatomy, hematology & blood transfusion.
DELSU is one of the few universities that offer surgery as a different course under its department of surgery, which includes general surgery, neurosurgery, urology, plastic surgery, and paediatric surgery under its Delta State Teaching Hospital.
In affiliation with Delta State University, its teaching hospital Delta State Teaching Hospital offers more than 20 medical courses.
6. Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma
Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, tops the list of the state universities that offer medicine and surgery in Nigeria. Located in the middle belt of the country. It is one of the most recognized state universities in Nigeria.
Under its College of Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Science, Department of Medicine, and Department of Surgery, the institution offers medicine and surgery for prospective candidates who are seeking admission to the institution.
It should be noted that the institution offers medicine as an independent department and also surgery as an independent department. What makes the institution the best for medicine and surgery is its reputation. Credited as being among the oldest universities that offer medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
It also maintains a fully accredited status with NUC and MDCN yearly. It is also known for its experienced lecturers who are well-grounded in the field of medicine and surgery.
Students in the field of medicine and surgery also have the opportunity to get practical hands-on experience at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Benin and the track record of its successful alumni across Nigeria and the globe.
7. University of Medicine Science (UNIMED)
This is the first and only Nigerian institution that is focused on the medical science field, which means there is no room for distraction from other courses, which might leave them understaffed. Established in 2015 by the Ondo state government, and remains under the ownership of the Ondo state government.
Though established in 2015, when compared to other institutions in Nigeria that offer medicine and surgery, their existence and credibility would have been questioned. However, this university has excelled so much in the medical field that it appears in almost every list as the best university to study medicine and surgery in Nigeria.
Fully accredited by MDCN and NUC. The university, under the faculty of clinical sciences, offers medicine and surgery in the institution. Notable for its up-to-standard modern facilities, a well-equipped lab for in hand practical simulation centers, and the latest medical tools for teaching. It is, of course, the best among the best universities in Nigeria.
The university is also notable for its stable academic calendar in order to keep the institution running and free from disruption from delays, which might come from industrial strikes from the state government or the federal government.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state Universities offer medicine and surgery in Nigeria?
There are currently 18 state universities that offer medicine and surgery in Nigeria, and they include UNIMED, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Lagos State University, Delta StateĀ University, and others
What is the required JAMB cut-off mark for medicine and surgery in state universities?
According to JAMB brochures, the stipulated JAMB cut-off mark is 150, but most state universities set the benchmark for their medicine and surgery courses at a 250 and above cut-off mark.
How do I verify whether a state university medical program is accredited?
This can be checked through the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) and the National Universities Commission (NUC) portal.
Conclusion
Not gaining admission into any of the best state university for medicine and surgery in Nigeria does not mean other institutions are not capable of offering the course or doing it to the standard set; this misconception should be warded off. Every state university accredited by NUC and MDCN is capable of offering medicine and surgery in Nigeria, regardless of whether they are mentioned in this list or not.
A.O isĀ a student of economics at Adekunle Ajasin Akungba Akoko University,Ondo state. His love for writing and passion for providing solutions for students in terms of admission, school fees and tips is what driveĀ his passion for writing educational post to guide and direct students.