NCDMB commissions Hi-Tech medical lab at Bayelsa Medical University
BMU says the facility will improve patient safety and reduce medical errors through simulation training.
The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has extended its capacity development mandate beyond oil and gas, commissioning a fully equipped Clinical Skills and Simulation Laboratory at Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa in what stakeholders described as a strategic investment in healthcare education and human capital development.
The state-of-the-art facility, delivered by the Board at the university, is designed to align the institution with global best practices in medical training while strengthening local capacity in Bayelsa State and Nigeria at large.
The laboratory is equipped with high-fidelity adult and pediatric patient simulators, laparoscopic training systems, obstetric trainers, advanced life support mannequins, consultation cubicles, and audio-visual learning systems. University authorities said the equipment will enable students to learn, make mistakes, and perfect their life-saving skills in a zero-risk environment before they ever touch a human patient.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, said capacity building is not just about oil and gas but about ecosystems, stressing that the industry does not operate in isolation. He identified healthcare, education, engineering, and logistics among sectors with direct linkages to oil and gas.
Represented by Mr Ene Ette, Acting Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, the Executive Secretary noted that simulation-based learning is now the global standard in medical education, allowing students to acquire hands-on clinical skills, improve decision-making, and build confidence in a controlled, safe environment before engaging real patients. He commended the university and partner organisations for their collaboration, describing the facility as a practical demonstration of how policy can translate into measurable impact.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor, Dimie Ogoina, said the event was not merely about unveiling equipment but about securing the future of healthcare in Bayelsa State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria at large. He expressed profound gratitude to the Board, recalling that upon assuming office in 2025 he introduced the A.S.P.I.R.E. Agenda to transform the institution into a globally recognised leader in medical education, research, and innovation driven by technology and excellence.
He said the world-class facility demonstrates that vision in action, noting that advanced simulators, CPR mannequins, and surgical training kits would contribute to reducing medical errors, improving patient safety, and developing indigenous healthcare professionals capable of serving communities and industries.
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“We are not just training doctors for today, we are nurturing digital-age physicians capable of competing on the global stage,” he emphasised.
Professor Ogoina also appreciated the Bayelsa State Government for creating an enabling environment for partnerships to thrive.
Similarly, the Provost of the College of Medicine, Philip Eyimina, expressed gratitude to the Board for its foresight and to the state government for its commitment to strengthening healthcare and education. He noted that the upgraded laboratory played a significant role in the institution’s recent accreditation verification exercise, affirming its readiness to deliver high-quality medical education in line with national standards.
According to him, students will acquire essential competencies such as history taking, physical examination, suturing, intravenous access, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, obstetric skills, and emergency response, alongside critical thinking, teamwork, and communication abilities.
In a special address, Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri lauded the Board for providing what he described as remarkable facilities, saying the investment supports the university’s aspiration to become a leading medical institution and helps position it for global recognition.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Gentle Emelah, the Governor affirmed the state government’s continued support for the institution’s pursuit of high academic standards.
In a goodwill message, the Pro-Chancellor, Tarilah Tebepah, said the Governing Council remains committed to producing innovative healthcare professionals despite the significant technology and funding required. He thanked the NCDMB and appealed for sustained partnership as the university addresses resource challenges.
The ceremony concluded with a tour of key units within the facility, including a Virtual Reality Station, Paediatric and Airway Management Stations, ECG and Patient Monitoring Station, IV Fluids Administration and Cannulation Station, and a Demonstration Hall.
