FG insists PhD will not replace medical fellowship

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By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

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The Federal Government has moved to dispel widespread confusion surrounding the Federal Executive Council’s FEC approval to amend the Act governing the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College, insisting that a Doctor of Philosophy ,PhD degree will not replace or be considered equivalent to medical fellowship in Nigeria.

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In a statement issued Thursday night, through its Director ,Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Federal Ministry of Education said the decision of the Council, chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, simply grants the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College the authority to seek accreditation from the National Universities Commission,NUC, to award PhD degrees in relevant medical and research fields.

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Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that several reports across traditional and digital media had misrepresented the policy, creating the impression that the government intended to equate a PhD with the prestigious medical fellowship qualification required for specialist clinical practice.

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He stressed that medical fellowship remains a distinct and superior professional qualification in clinical medicine, earned only after physicians undergo rigorous residency training and meet other postgraduate medical education requirements for specialist certification.

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According to the minister, the FEC approval merely broadens the academic mandate of the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College, which has historically been responsible for awarding fellowships to qualified physicians.

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“With the new approval, the College will be able,subject to NUC accreditation,to offer PhD programmes for candidates interested in pursuing advanced academic research alongside professional medical training,” Alausa said.

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He explained that under the proposed framework, doctors undergoing postgraduate medical training may choose to integrate a structured doctoral research pathway into their fellowship programmes where appropriate.

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The initiative, he noted, is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity for high-level medical research, deepen academic medicine, and boost specialist knowledge development, while preserving the integrity and prestige attached to professional fellowships.

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The ministry said the clarification became necessary following widespread misconceptions suggesting that the proposed PhD programmes would place academic doctoral degrees on the same pedestal as professional fellowship qualifications.

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Rather than replacing the fellowship structure, the reform introduces an additional academic pathway designed to complement specialist medical training.

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Officials said the policy reflects the Federal Government’s broader agenda to strengthen postgraduate medical education, expand opportunities for research and innovation, and align Nigeria’s specialist training system with global best practices.

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The ministry reassured the medical community, academic institutions, and the public that the decision does not in any way diminish the value or status of medical fellowship in Nigeria.

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Instead, it said, the reform represents a strategic move to deepen scholarly research within the country’s medical training ecosystem and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global medical education and scientific discovery.

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The government also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity, quality, and international relevance of Nigeria’s higher education and professional training systems, while ensuring that policy decisions are properly communicated and clearly understood by the public.

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