The National Universities Commission ( NUC ) upgraded medical programs in Nigerian universities to doctoral status.
This announcement came from NUC’s Acting Director of Public Affairs, Franca Chukwuonwo, on Wednesday.
Chukwuonwo emphasized that the upgrade aims to enhance clinical and practical training.
It will also improve foundational course coverage and develop clinical skills comprehensively across specialty areas.
This decision aligns with global best practices for training professionals in healthcare fields.
The commission seeks to ensure that Nigerian universities meet international educational standards.
Additionally, the duration of these programmes has increased from five to six years.
This extension allows for the inclusion of more courses and extensive clinical training opportunities.
The upgraded programs include Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry (O.D.).
These changes adhere to NUC ’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
