In a bid to improve medical education in Nigeria, the National Universities Commission (NUC) has transformed select health-related undergraduate programmes into doctoral degrees.
The announcement, made by Franca Chukwuonwo, Acting Director of Public Affairs at NUC, highlighted the commission’s intention to enhance the curriculum by incorporating more practical and clinical components.
This change is designed to strengthen foundational knowledge, advance clinical skills, and provide comprehensive training across specialised fields.
The upgraded programmes—Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry (OD)—are detailed in NUC’s Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) and Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
To support the expanded curriculum, the study duration for these courses has increased from five to six years.
This reform reflects global best practices in professional training, ensuring Nigerian graduates are equipped for international competitiveness.
3 comments