The National Universities Commission, NUC has approved that the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA establish a School of Health and Health Technology.

The Institution is already putting structures in place to ensure the successful take off of the new school during the next academic session with courses such as Physiology, Anatomy, Dental Technology and Optometry.

Speaking on the development, Professor Adebiyi Daramola, the vice-chancellor, said the new school which is in fulfillment of the vision of the founding fathers of the Institution will eventually lead to the establishment of a medical school and teaching hospital.

“We are starting with degrees in the basic medical sciences and ultimately end up with a teaching hospital. These two new departments are precursors of a Medical School because we already have Bio-Chemistry in the School of Sciences.

“Besides, we cannot have health related courses without having the core, which is medicine. You can’t have optometry and other ancillary courses without a teaching hospital which is at the core. Some of the courses we are starting with are basic medical sciences. And if you are familiar with the training of medical doctors, they start with what is called basic medical sciences. It is when they are well grounded in these, that they go to the clinical,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

Daramola added that the new school will have the imprimatur of excellence which FUTA is known for.