Overview and History of POMO University of Medical Sciences, Portharcourt

 
In a country where medical education is both highly sought after and severely constrained, the emergence of specialized institutions is not only welcome but necessary. PAMO University of Medical Sciences (PUMS) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State stands out as a pioneering example: Nigeria’s first private university devoted solely to medical and allied health sciences. The institution offers students the chance to immerse themselves in a learning environment tailored for health-care training—not simply one department in a large general university but an entire institution built around the medical sciences.

Situated in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, PUMS unites commitment to professional excellence, modern infrastructure, and discipline with teaching and research tailored to the health sector. Students at PUMS don’t simply study biology in general—they study anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, human nutrition, medical laboratory science and the full spectrum of allied and clinical health professions. The importance of this cannot be over-emphasised: Nigeria has for years struggled with insufficient numbers of qualified doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, and PUMS is positioned to contribute to closing that gap by producing graduates ready for service.

But more than sheer numbers, the institution places a premium on quality, infrastructure, accreditation and timely graduation. From its licencing to take-off, PUMS has aimed to be visible not just as another private university but as a benchmark in medical education in Nigeria. For parents, prospective students and stakeholders, PUMS offers a focused route to the medical professions, with the benefits of specialised training, purpose-built facilities and a dedicated mission. In this blog post we’ll walk through the various aspects of PUMS: its official website, motto, founder, history, chancellor, accreditation & recognition, academic structure & facilities, campus life, and what we can presently learn about its alumni — to give you an informative and humanised understanding of the institution.

##Official Website
The official web portal of PAMO University of Medical Sciences is https://new.pums.edu.ng/ It serves as the primary interface for prospective students, current students and partners. Through the site you can access information on admissions (UTME, direct entry), academic programmes, tuition and fees, campus facilities, accreditation status, news & events, contact details, and more. The website emphasises the institution’s mission, specialist orientation and health-training focus.

##Motto
The motto of the university is “Excellence for the Good of All.” 
This phrase captures both the ambition for academic/clinical excellence and the broader societal purpose of health-care education: not just training for self-advancement but for service, community welfare, human dignity and impact across society.

##Founder
PAMO University of Medical Sciences was founded by Dr. Peter O. Odili, CON (a former Governor of Rivers State) through the PAMO Educational Foundation and his broader health-care enterprise, the PAMO Clinics & Hospitals Group. His vision was to build on decades of experience in health service delivery and to translate that into a university dedicated to medical education in Nigeria — thereby addressing the shortage of health professionals and setting a new standard in training.

##History
The history of PAMO University of Medical Sciences is relatively short but significant. The institution was licensed by the federal government in December 2017, becoming one of the select few private universities in Nigeria — and the first private university exclusively devoted to the medical and allied health sciences. 
From its conceptualisation, the founder Dr. Odili drew on the legacy of the PAMO Clinics & Hospitals Group (established in the late 1980s) which had delivered health-care services in Port Harcourt and beyond.This meant that the university could link to an existing health service infrastructure rather than start from scratch — a strategic advantage for clinical-training programmes.

In June 2018, the university matriculated its pioneer class of 123 students. 
Over the following years, PUMS moved steadily to secure accreditation of its programmes, invest in infrastructure (such as laboratories, hostels, 24-hour power/water supply, teaching hospital plans), and build a reputation for discipline, timely graduation and health-sector relevance.

By 2023, the university announced the convocation and induction of its first set of medical doctors (MBBS), an important milestone for a university of such orientation.In sum, while the institution is still young compared to longstanding universities, its pace of development, clear health-specialisation and institutional purpose make it a notable presence in Nigeria’s tertiary-education landscape.

##Chancellor
The Chancellor (and Chairman of the Board of Trustees) of PUMS is Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, GCFR. 
Brief biography:

Born 13 June 1942 in Minna, Niger State.

Enlisted in Nigerian military service in 1963, later served in the Army and Air Force, rising to General. He became Head of State of Nigeria from June 1998 to May 1999, overseeing the transition to civilian rule.

Post-service, he has served in various peace-building, diplomatic, strategic and humanitarian roles internationally.

In his role as Chancellor of PUMS, Gen. Abdulsalami brings high-level national stature, enabling the university to attract support, visibility and partnerships. At a convocation event, he emphasised that “character, integrity [are] the cornerstone of health profession” — reflecting the ethos of the institution. 

His appointment underscores the institution’s aspiration not just for academic excellence but for leadership, credibility and national relevance.

##Accreditation and Recognition
Accreditation is a critical factor in assessing any university; for PUMS, the credentials are notable:

The university’s programmes were granted full accreditation by the National Universities Commission (NUC). For example, on 19 March 2020 a letter was issued approving six programmes: B.Sc. Anatomy, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Physiology (Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences); B.MLS (Medical Laboratory Science) and B.Sc Nursing Science (Faculty of Allied Health Sciences). 

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) granted full pre-clinical accreditation for the MBBS programme, a significant milestone for a medical-university candidate. 

Articles note that in 2021 the institution was hailed for having full accreditation of its courses and programmes by sundry medical/health professional bodies. 

According to one source, PUMS is ranked “35th out of 200 universities in Nigeria” and “19th among private universities” (as of 2022) by NUC. 

Taken together, these recognitions indicate that prospective students can regard PUMS as legitimate, well-regulated, and in line with national higher-education standards—particularly for health-science training.


##Academic Structure and Facilities
PAMO University of Medical Sciences has been designed around its specialist mission. Here are six key features of its academic structure and facilities:
Faculties/Academic Divisions
The university is organised into faculties such as: 

Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences

Faculty of Allied Health Sciences

Faculty of Clinical Sciences. 


##Campus Life and Facilities
Campus life at PUMS balances the rigours of health-science training with infrastructure and support essential for student welfare:

Location & Environment: Situated at No. 1 Tap Road, Elelenwo (Off Aba Expressway), Port Harcourt. The site offers an urban-setting coupled with a residential campus environment. 

Accommodation: Hostels with en-suite rooms, constant water, 24-hour power supply, security posts, resident staff. Students live on campus, which fosters immersion in the academic community. 
Student Health & Welfare: Given the professional orientation, student welfare is emphasised — clinic, referral to teaching hospital, health-services linkage. 

Discipline & Community Standards: PUMS emphasises strong codes of conduct—dress codes, restrictions on student cars, zero tolerance for cult-activities, strict academic policies. This is reflective of its commitment to producing professionals of integrity. 

Extracurricular & Support Services: While focus is on academics and professional preparation, the university also supports sports, peer groups, mentoring and residence-life culture. The environment is structured to foster learning, innovation and personal growth.Career & Professional Readiness: Because students appear on programmes with a clinical orientation, the campus life is aligned with pacing for professional readiness rather than general university “social” culture. Students are immersed in an environment that expects seriousness and discipline.

In short, campus life at PUMS is designed to support a focused, professional training path—with the amenities, structure and support required for intensive medical-health education.