From Victoria Jigah Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Education has issued a clarification regarding reports circulating across traditional and digital media platforms about the approval granted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), to amend the Act governing the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College.
The ministry emphasised that the approval does not suggest that PhD degrees would replace or be considered equivalent to medical fellowships, as some reports have misinterpreted.
Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa, in a statement issued by the Director of Press of the Ministry, Boriowo Folashade, explained that the approval granted by the Council under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, allows the College to seek accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), to award Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), degrees in relevant medical and research disciplines.
He noted that some reports have wrongly interpreted the development as suggesting that a PhD degree would replace or be considered equivalent to medical fellowship, emphasising that this is incorrect.
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Dr Alausa clarified, “Medical fellowship remains a distinct and higher professional qualification in clinical practice, awarded to physicians who have successfully completed rigorous residency training and other postgraduate medical education requirements necessary for specialist practice.”
According to the Minister, the FEC decision simply expands the academic mandate of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College.
In addition to its long-standing responsibility of awarding professional fellowships to qualified physicians, the College will now be able upon accreditation by the National Universities Commission to offer PhD programmes for candidates wishing to pursue advanced academic research alongside their professional medical training.
He added that, under the proposed framework, physicians undergoing postgraduate medical training will have the option to integrate a structured doctoral research pathway with their fellowship programmes where appropriate.
“This approach is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for high-level medical research, academic medicine, and specialist knowledge development, while preserving the integrity and prestige of professional medical fellowships,” he said.
He further explained that this clarification is necessary to correct misconceptions suggesting that the PhD degree is being placed on the same level as fellowship qualifications. Instead, the reform introduces an additional academic pathway that complements the existing professional training structure.
Additionally, the Ministry emphasised that the reform reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening postgraduate medical education, expanding opportunities for advanced research and innovation, and aligning Nigeria’s specialist medical training framework with global best practices.
The Ministry reassures the public, the medical community, and academic institutions that the approval does not diminish the value or status of medical fellowships in Nigeria. Rather, it represents a strategic effort to deepen academic scholarship within the country’s medical training system and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global medical research and education.
The statement concluded that the Ministry remains committed to maintaining the integrity, quality, and global relevance of Nigeria’s higher education and professional training systems, while ensuring that policy decisions are clearly communicated and properly understood by the public.
