The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced the upgrade of several medical-related programs in Nigerian universities from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral status.
The affected programs include Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry, which will now follow a six-year academic duration instead of the previous five years.
This significant reform aligns with global best practices, ensuring that graduates of these programs from Nigerian universities can compete favorably on the international stage.
According to a statement released by the Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo, the decision aims to enhance the quality of training by incorporating additional clinical and practical sessions, expanding foundational course coverage, and addressing specialty areas comprehensively.
“The upgrade is designed to ensure that certificates from Nigerian universities are comparable to those obtained globally, improving harmonization, mutual recognition, and global competitiveness for Nigerian graduates in certification, employability, and further studies,” the NUC statement read.
To clarify its position on other programs, the NUC emphasized that the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) program does not exist in its Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) or Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS). Consequently, the commission has declared the MLSD program unapproved and unrecognized within the Nigerian university system.