The Federal Government has approved a policy allowing specialised medical colleges in Nigeria to award Doctor of Philosophy degrees, a move aimed at strengthening medical research and advanced academic training.
Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa announced the decision on Tuesday in Abuja, explaining that the approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council as part of reforms to expand postgraduate medical education.The development followed an amendment to the law governing the , which now allows the institution to introduce PhD programmes in medical and health research fields.According to the minister, the reform will enable the College to seek accreditation from the to award doctoral degrees in relevant disciplines.The Education Ministry said the change is intended to strengthen academic research capacity in Nigeria’s health sector and deepen collaboration between medical colleges and universities.However, the ministry issued a clarification after reports suggested that the new policy placed PhD degrees on the same professional level as medical fellowships.Dr Alausa said the interpretation was incorrect, stressing that fellowship qualifications obtained from postgraduate medical colleges remain the recognised pathway for specialist medical practice.“PhD programmes are strictly academic and research-based. They do not replace the professional fellowships required for clinical specialisation,” the minister said.Medical fellowships in Nigeria are awarded after rigorous residency training and professional examinations conducted by postgraduate medical colleges. The qualification certifies a doctor as a specialist in a particular field of medicine.The ministry noted that the new policy is designed to complement, not replace, the fellowship system by creating stronger opportunities for research training within medical institutions.Officials said the reform is also expected to improve Nigeria’s contribution to global medical research while encouraging innovation in health sciences.Education stakeholders say the introduction of PhD programmes within medical colleges could deepen research output, strengthen teaching capacity, and bridge the gap between clinical practice and academic medicine in the country.
