By Mariam Abeeb
The National Universities Commission (NUC) says it has upgraded some medical-related programmes in the Nigerian universities from Bachelor’s degree to doctoral status.
This is disclosed in a statement signed by the commission’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs Franca Chukwuonwo, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
Chukwuonwo said the decision was driven by the need to incorporate more clinical and practical sessions, improve foundational course coverage, enhance clinical skills, and address all specialty areas comprehensively.
She noted that the upgrade aligned with global best practices for training professionals in these fields.
“This quest to upgrade the status of some medical-related programmes from Bachelor’s Degree to Doctor was borne out of the desire to incorporate more clinical/ practical sessions.
“It is to provide sufficient coverage of foundation courses, improve on clinical skills and cover all specialty areas.
“The trend seeks to also align with global best practices applicable in the training of professionals in these medical related programmes.
“Furthermore, the certificates obtained from the Nigerian University System (NUS) can be at par with those obtained in similar programmes from other climes” she said.
She added that it would also ensure the requisite harmonisation, mutuality and global competitiveness of Nigerian graduates in terms of certificates evaluation, employability and further studies in the relevant disciplines.
She listed the programmes upgraded as: Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry.
She added that the duration of the programmes was increased from five to six years to accommodate the additional courses and clinicals incorporated into the curriculum.
“The general public and all stakeholders are hereby informed that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme does not exist in the NUC’s BMAS or CCMAS.
“And thus has not been captured as an upgraded programmes. Consequently, DMLS programme is not approved in any university in the country,” she said.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
