NCDMB takes local content into healthcare
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned a Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, in a landmark intervention aimed at strengthening local
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has commissioned a Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University (BMU), Yenagoa, in a landmark intervention aimed at strengthening local capacity and aligning medical training in Nigeria with global standards.
Fully funded and equipped by the Board, the hi-tech facility features high-fidelity adult and paediatric patient simulators, laparoscopic training systems, and obstetric trainers, advanced life support mannequins, consultation cubicles, and integrated audio-visual learning systems.
University authorities said the equipment will enable students to acquire hands-on clinical experience in a zero-risk environment — allowing them to learn, make mistakes, and perfect life-saving skills before attending to real patients.
Speaking during the commissioning at the university’s Clinical Skills Acquisition Centre, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, underscored the broader philosophy driving the intervention.
“Capacity building is not just about oil and gas; it is about ecosystems,” he said, noting that industries such as healthcare, education, engineering and logistics are intrinsically linked to the oil and gas value chain.
Read Also: NCDMB backs Africa Energy Bank
Represented by the Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Ene Ette, Ogbe described simulation-based learning as the global benchmark in modern medical education. According to him, it enhances clinical competence, sharpens decision-making, and builds professional confidence in a controlled and safe environment.
He commended the management of BMU and partner organisations for what he termed a strategic collaboration that translates policy into measurable developmental impact, describing the upgraded laboratory as a deliberate investment in human capital development.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Dimie Ogoina, in his welcome address, described the event as more than the unveiling of a building or medical equipment.
“This is about securing the future of healthcare in Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large,” he said.
Ogoina expressed deep appreciation to the NCDMB, recalling that upon assuming office in 2025, he unveiled the A.S.P.I.R.E. Agenda — a strategic vision to transform BMU into a globally recognised leader in medical education, research and innovation powered by technology and excellence.
“Today, we are seeing that vision come alive,” he said, noting that the facility would directly contribute to reducing medical errors, improving patient safety and producing highly skilled indigenous healthcare professionals capable of serving both communities and industries.
“We are not just training doctors for today; we are nurturing digital-age physicians ready to compete globally,” he emphasised.
The Vice Chancellor also acknowledged the support of Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, as well as the Commissioners for Health and Education, for creating an enabling environment for strategic partnerships.
The Provost of the College of Medicine, Professor Philip Eyimina, said the laboratory played a pivotal role in the university’s recent accreditation verification exercise, affirming its readiness to deliver quality medical education in line with national standards.
“In this laboratory, our students will master essential competencies — from history taking and physical examination to suturing, intravenous access, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, obstetric procedures and emergency response — while developing critical thinking, teamwork and communication skills,” he stated.
Representing Governor Diri, the Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, described the facility as remarkable and aligned with the university’s ambition to become a leading institution in medical education globally.
The Pro-Chancellor, Tarilah Tebepah, thanked the NCDMB for its foresight and generosity, urging the Board to sustain its partnership with the institution as it continues to address resource constraints.
The ceremony was complemented with a guided tour of the facility, including its Virtual Reality Station, Paediatric and Airway Management Stations, ECG and Patient Monitoring Station, IV Fluids Administration and Cannulation Station, and a fully equipped Demonstration Hall — underscoring a new chapter in technology-driven medical training in the Niger Delta.
