Ogun State, positioned between Lagos and Oyo in South-West Nigeria, hosts two institutions with full Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) accreditation for Medicine and Surgery training: a state university and a private, faith-based university. This article explains what each school offers, how their fee structures compare, and what a prospective medical student should budget for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Medical Schools Located in Ogun State
Two universities in Ogun State currently run accredited MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) programmes:
- Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) College of Health Sciences – a state university with its main campus at Ago-Iwoye and additional campuses across Ogun State, formerly known as Ogun State University.
- Babcock University, Benjamin S. Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences – a private university located in Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, owned and operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Both institutions hold full accreditation from the MDCN for their medicine programmes, which means their degrees are fully recognized for medical licensing and practice in Nigeria. Clinical training at OOU is anchored at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, while Babcock runs its clinical rotations through its own affiliated teaching hospital and partner health facilities. No federal university in Ogun State currently offers Medicine and Surgery; the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), the state’s main federal institution, focuses on agriculture-related disciplines and does not run a medical programme.
Why Fees Differ So Sharply Between the Two Schools
The gap between OOU and Babcock’s fees is one of the widest among any two medical schools located in the same state, and this comes down entirely to ownership and funding source.
- State university (OOU): Receives subvention from the Ogun State Government, which keeps tuition relatively low across all faculties, including medicine. Fees are influenced more by faculty and level of study than by a strict indigene/non-indigene divide, though residency status can still affect certain administrative charges.
- Private university (Babcock): Operates without government subvention, funded through tuition, church support, and private investment. Because medical training requires extensive laboratory space, clinical partnerships, and specialized faculty, Babcock’s Medicine and Surgery programme carries one of the highest tuition rates among its course offerings, and this rate applies uniformly regardless of a student’s state of origin.
This means a student’s choice between the two schools in Ogun State is less about residency status and more about affordability, since the difference between state-subsidized and privately-funded medical education produces a fee gap running into millions of naira per session.
Fee Comparison Table for Medical Schools in Ogun State (2026/2027)
| Institution | Ownership | Location | Approx. Fee per Session (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) College of Health Sciences | State | Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State | 100,000 – 180,000 | Medicine sits at the higher end of OOU’s general fee range; additional acceptance and hostel fees apply for fresh students |
| Babcock University, Benjamin S. Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences | Private | Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State | 3,500,000 – 5,500,000 | Uniform rate for all students; separate acceptance fee, registration fee, and medical fee apply on top of tuition |
These figures cover tuition and standard obligatory charges. They exclude feeding, accommodation, textbooks, and clinical supplies, all of which add a further cost once a student begins the programme, particularly in the clinical years. Fee schedules at both institutions are reviewed periodically, so students should confirm the exact figure for their level and department through the official student portal before making payment.
Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) College of Health Sciences
OOU’s College of Health Sciences runs a Medicine and Surgery programme structured around six years of pre-clinical and clinical training, with practical exposure delivered through the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital. As a state university, OOU’s overall fee structure is one of the more affordable options among Nigerian medical schools, with general session fees across all courses ranging broadly between ₦60,000 and ₦180,000, and medicine typically sitting near the top of that range because of laboratory access, clinical attachment, and accreditation-related charges specific to the programme.
Fresh students at OOU pay an acceptance fee, generally around ₦60,000, shortly after their admission is confirmed, along with a hostel fee that varies depending on the hall of residence, typically falling between ₦55,000 and ₦80,000. Additional charges bundled into the session invoice include medical fees, matriculation fees, ICT fees, library fees, and sports fees, all of which are standard across Nigerian state universities.
Admission into OOU’s medicine programme is highly competitive relative to the university’s other courses. Candidates need a UTME score well above OOU’s general baseline cut-off, five credit passes in relevant O’Level subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, and a strong outcome in the university’s post-UTME screening exercise, since demand for medical school slots consistently exceeds available quota.
Babcock University, Benjamin S. Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences
Babcock’s medical college, named after the renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Carson, is one of the most established private medical training programmes in Nigeria, having produced its first set of graduates in 2017. The college trains students across Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, and Physiotherapy, with its MBBS programme fully accredited by the MDCN and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, giving graduates international recognition alongside domestic licensing eligibility.
Because Babcock operates without government funding, its Medicine and Surgery programme carries substantially higher fees than any state or federal medical school. Tuition for the medicine programme runs into millions of naira per session, and this is compounded by additional charges applied specifically to new students, including a sizeable acceptance fee, a registration fee, and a separate medical fee. These charges are distinct from tuition and are payable before a student can begin the registration process.
Babcock’s admission requirements for medicine mirror standard MBBS entry conditions applied across Nigerian universities: five credit passes in core science subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings, along with a UTME aggregate score that meets the university’s minimum threshold for the programme. Given the significantly higher cost relative to public alternatives, many families choose Babcock specifically for its smaller class sizes, consistent academic calendar, and modern clinical training facilities, which are less commonly disrupted by the strikes that occasionally affect public universities.
What Drives the Cost of Studying Medicine, Regardless of School
Medicine consistently ranks among the most expensive programmes at any Nigerian university, public or private, for several structural reasons:
- Extended duration – MBBS programmes run for six years, longer than most other undergraduate degrees, which means a student pays session fees for a longer stretch of time.
- Laboratory and clinical infrastructure – anatomy labs, dissection materials, and clinical simulation equipment require ongoing investment that gets reflected in departmental charges.
- Teaching hospital affiliation – clinical training depends on active teaching hospital partnerships, and the cost of maintaining these partnerships is factored into tuition, particularly at private institutions.
- Accreditation requirements – the MDCN sets strict standards for facilities, staffing, and curriculum that a medical school must continuously meet to retain accreditation, and compliance carries a real financial cost passed on to students.
Admission Requirements Common to Both Schools
Both OOU and Babcock apply broadly similar entry conditions for their medicine programmes, consistent with MDCN standards applied nationwide:
- Five credit passes at O’Level, including English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A UTME score meeting or exceeding the specific cut-off mark set for medicine, which is considerably higher than the general baseline cut-off applied to non-competitive courses at either institution.
- Successful completion of the university’s post-UTME or institutional screening exercise.
- Selection of the institution as first choice on the JAMB portal, or a formal change of institution through JAMB CAPS where permitted.
How to Pay Fees at These Institutions
Both universities process payments electronically through their respective student portals. The general process, though it varies slightly by institution, follows this pattern:
- Log in to the university’s student portal using the matriculation number or JAMB registration number and assigned password.
- Select the current session (2026/2027) and generate an invoice for the applicable fee category.
- Retrieve the payment reference number generated by the portal.
- Complete payment through a debit card, bank transfer, USSD, or a designated bank branch linked to the payment platform.
- Print or save the payment receipt for registration and clearance purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which medical school in Ogun State is more affordable?
Olabisi Onabanjo University is considerably more affordable than Babcock University. As a state institution, OOU’s fees for medicine fall within a few hundred thousand naira per session, while Babcock’s private funding model places its medicine fees in the millions of naira per session.
Does Babcock University charge different fees for Ogun State indigenes?
No. Babcock is a private university and applies a uniform fee structure to all admitted students regardless of their state of origin.
Is there a federal university offering medicine in Ogun State?
No. The main federal university in Ogun State, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, does not run a Medicine and Surgery programme. The only two accredited medical schools in the state are OOU (state-owned) and Babcock University (private).
Are both medical schools fully accredited by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria?
Yes. Both OOU’s College of Health Sciences and Babcock University’s Benjamin S. Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences hold full MDCN accreditation, meaning graduates from either institution are eligible for medical licensing and practice in Nigeria.