The Management of the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), has officially announced that it will not be admitting students into its Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme for the upcoming 2026/2027 academic session. This directive applies to all categories of applicants, including those seeking admission through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) candidates.
The announcement, signed by C.O. Adeleye, serves as a critical update for thousands of prospective medical students who traditionally look to FUTA as a premier destination for technology-driven medical education. While the university has not explicitly detailed the reasons for this hiatus, such decisions in the Nigerian university system are often linked to accreditation cycles, quota adjustments by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), or internal administrative restructuring aimed at enhancing facility standards.
Immediate Implications for JAMB Applicants
The timing of this announcement is particularly vital, as it coincides with the ongoing registration period for the 2026 UTME administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Candidates who have already selected FUTA as their first-choice institution for the MBBS programme are now at a crossroads.
Because the programme will be unavailable for the 2026/2027 cycle, any application tied to FUTA for Medicine will not be processed. Consequently, affected candidates are advised to act swiftly to avoid losing an entire academic year. The university management has urged these applicants to seek alternative institutions that are offering the MBBS programme for the current session.
Action Steps for Affected Candidates
To safeguard your academic future, candidates who previously chose FUTA for Medicine should follow these steps immediately:
- Perform a Change of Institution/Course.
Once the JAMB portal opens the window for data correction, candidates should apply for a Change of Institution. It is important to verify that the new university chosen has the full accreditation and available quota for Medicine and Surgery to ensure a valid application. - Explore Alternative Technology-Based Universities.
If you are interested in the intersection of technology and medicine—a hallmark of FUTA’s curriculum—you may consider other Federal Universities of Technology or comprehensive federal universities with established medical colleges, such as the University of Ibadan, University of Ilorin, or Lagos State University, depending on your UTME subject combination.
Institutional Integrity and Future Cycles
FUTA remains one of Nigeria’s leading centers for excellence in science and technology. The temporary suspension of the MBBS intake for the 2026/2027 session does not necessarily reflect on the quality of the programme but is often a regulatory necessity to ensure the institution maintains a sustainable student-to-faculty ratio as mandated by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
Candidates who are determined to attend FUTA may consider applying for related high-impact programmes in the School of Health and Health Technology (SHHT), such as Biomedical Technology or Physiology, or wait for the 2027/2028 cycle if they are not in a hurry to begin their studies. However, for those focused on the 2026 intake, immediate action on the JAMB portal is the only way to remain in contention for a medical degree this year.