Ikefuna unveils reform agenda for Nigeria’s postgraduate medical college
By Henry Nnaemeka
The newly inaugurated 24th President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Dr Anthony Nnaemeka Ikefuna, has unveiled a set of reforms aimed at strengthening postgraduate medical and dental training in the country.
Speaking at his investiture ceremony on Friday, Ikefuna described his emergence as both a privilege and a call to deepen his service to the College and Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He acknowledged the contributions of the College’s founding fathers and past presidents, noting that their efforts laid the foundation for the institution’s current stature in postgraduate medical education.
“Our College is Nigeria’s gateway to postgraduate medical training, and we must continue to produce top specialists who will make Nigerians stay healthy,” he said.
Ikefuna announced plans to expand the College’s academic reach and visibility through the introduction of a bi-monthly online lecture series, scheduled to commence on March 26, 2026, with the Faculty of Anaesthesia delivering the inaugural presentation.
According to him, the virtual lecture initiative will promote lifelong learning, facilitate knowledge sharing, and strengthen professional development among Fellows and resident doctors.
The new president also outlined plans to establish a dedicated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre, clinical skills and simulation laboratories, and an ICT-enabled telemedicine centre to modernise training and assessment processes.
He said the initiatives are expected to enhance the quality of specialist training, improve evaluation systems, and position the College as a hub for technology-driven medical education.
As part of efforts to promote accountability and excellence, the College will introduce the Dr Christopher Ekundayo Famewo Quality Assurance Prize, which will reward Faculties that demonstrate outstanding compliance with quality assurance standards during examinations.
Ikefuna said the winning Faculty will receive N500,000 and a trophy with a certificate of recognition.
He also disclosed that the College is working towards launching a pre-Fellowship PhD programme in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) to deepen research capacity and strengthen academic training.
Other strategies outlined by the new leadership include encouraging Fellows to list the College as their official affiliation in scholarly publications, developing a more user-friendly website, and introducing a College newsletter to improve communication with Fellows and stakeholders.
Ikefuna further emphasised the need to engage Nigerian medical professionals in the diaspora, revealing that over 80 specialists abroad have already applied for Fellowship under the College’s new diaspora guidelines.
“The College belongs to Nigerians, and we welcome all proficient medical professionals willing to contribute to our mission,” he said.
He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to sustaining global standards in postgraduate medical education and producing highly skilled specialists capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Also, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, in a message at the event, acknowledged the challenges facing the health sector but assured stakeholders that the government is implementing reforms to strengthen the system.
Pate urged the new leadership of the College to align residency training with the evolving demands of digital health and modern medical practice while supporting efforts to address the country’s brain drain challenge.
Represented by the Director of Hospital Services at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Abisola Adegoke, the minister said government policies are focused on improving medical training, expanding opportunities for healthcare professionals, and strengthening the overall health system.
“The ministry is not sleeping. We are making efforts through policy reforms, but implementation requires collaboration from all stakeholders,” Adegoke said.
She urged medical professionals to remain committed to national development while the government continues efforts to improve working conditions in the sector.
“We must all contribute in our own way so that even those abroad will be encouraged to return and share the knowledge they have acquired,” she added.
Adegoke also unveiled the Christopher Ekundayo Famewo Quality Assurance Trophy, describing the initiative as a significant step toward strengthening quality assurance in medical training and research within the College.
She expressed optimism that the award would stimulate healthy competition among Faculties and further improve standards in postgraduate medical education.
