The Federal Government has clarified that the recent Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval to amend the Act governing the Nigerian Postgraduate Medical College does not equate a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree with medical fellowship.
In a statement issued Thursday night, the Ministry of Education explained that the approval simply allows the College to seek accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to award PhD degrees in relevant medical and research fields.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said several reports had misrepresented the policy, creating the impression that a PhD would replace fellowship qualifications.
He clarified that fellowship remains a superior professional certification in clinical medicine, earned only after rigorous residency training and postgraduate requirements.
Fellowship Remains Distinct From PhD
“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 stated.
He explained that doctors undergoing postgraduate medical training may integrate doctoral research into their fellowship programmes where appropriate.
The policy is expected to improve Nigeria’s capacity for medical research, deepen academic medicine, and boost specialist knowledge development.
The ministry said the clarification was necessary following misconceptions that the PhD programmes would place academic doctoral degrees on the same level as fellowship qualifications.
Ministry officials re-emphasised that the fellowship structure remains intact, while the PhD pathway is designed to complement specialist training.
According to them, the policy reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening postgraduate medical education, expanding opportunities for research, and aligning Nigeria’s training system with global best practices.
The government reassured medical professionals and the public that the decision does not diminish the value of fellowship.
Instead, it represents a strategic effort to deepen scholarly research and enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in global medical education and scientific discovery.
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