LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Newly inaugurated President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Professor Anthony Ikefuna, has unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at modernising postgraduate medical training, strengthening quality assurance systems and expanding the institution’s digital and research capacity.
At the centre of his vision are new innovations in medical education, including competency-based assessments, digital learning platforms, research integrity tools and expanded collaborations with Nigerian professionals in the diaspora.
The reforms, outlined during his inaugural address as the 24th President of the College, also confront longstanding challenges such as the need for computer-based examination infrastructure, simulation laboratories and technology-driven training platforms.
A key initiative announced by Ikefuna is the introduction of regular online academic engagements designed to strengthen continuous learning among trainers and resident doctors.
Beginning March 26, 2026, the College will commence bi-monthly virtual lectures and webinars, with the Faculty of Anaesthesia scheduled to deliver the first presentation.
According to Ikefuna, the lecture series will help disseminate new medical knowledge, foster collaboration across specialties and project the College’s academic expertise to the wider medical community.
“These lectures will disseminate knowledge, instil a commitment to continuous learning, promote professional development, and enable us to stay current with the latest advancements and best practice,” he said.
According to him, the initiative will be coordinated by the College’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) committee and will involve all faculties taking turns to present research findings, innovations and emerging developments in their specialties.
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Beyond professional development, the programme is expected to strengthen public awareness of the College’s work while promoting lifelong learning among medical practitioners.
Another major reform that he spoke about involves the introduction of competency-based formative assessment; a model increasingly adopted in global medical education.
“Under the system, resident doctors will be assessed not only on theoretical knowledge but also on practical clinical skills documented through an electronic portfolio,” he said.
This digital platform is expected to allow the College to track trainees’ progress, verify skills acquisition and archive clinical performance records.
Is noted that in some cases, procedures and clinical tasks performed by trainees may be recorded on video to enable evaluators to confirm mastery of specific competencies.
The initiative is expected to encourage residents to focus more on practical skills while building the confidence needed for independent clinical decision-making.
“When fully implemented, the portfolio-based model may eventually form part of the College’s summative assessment system,” he said.
Speaking on strengthening research integrity, Ikefuna highlighted measures aimed at safeguarding academic integrity within the College’s research programmes.
“The institution currently uses Turnitin, a web-based plagiarism detection tool, to scan research proposals, theses and dissertations submitted by candidates.
“The system compares submitted manuscripts against a large global database of academic publications and online materials to detect copied content.
“To expand access to the service, the College has extended its use to faculties and their representatives in the Senate,” he said.
He called on financially up-to-date fellows and trainers to use the tool to support research supervision and maintain the originality of academic work.
The initiative, according to Ikefuna, reflects the College’s commitment to maintaining high standards in scholarly research and publications.
On expanding of postgraduate research opportunities, the president said the College is also moving forward with plans to introduce a pre-fellowship PhD programme.
He said this proposal emerged from consultations among fellows working in academic institutions.
“The programme is expected to deepen research engagement among postgraduate trainees while strengthening collaboration with the National Universities Commission and Nigerian universities.
“Many fellows of the College already contribute to undergraduate medical education across the country, serving as lecturers, mentors and researchers,” he said.
Ikefuna noted that Nigerian-trained doctors have continued to excel internationally, demonstrating the strength of the country’s postgraduate medical training system.
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Also speaking on collaboration and diaspora engagement, he said the new administration also plans to deepen collaborations with postgraduate medical institutions and professional bodies with similar objectives.
Such partnerships will allow the exchange of knowledge, training methods and research expertise across disciplines.
He noted that collaborative programmes already exist in some faculties, including ophthalmology, obstetrics and gynaecology, and pathology.
He encouraged other faculties to develop similar partnerships.
Speaking further he said the College is also looking beyond Nigeria’s borders by engaging medical professionals in the diaspora.
“Guidelines have already been developed to allow qualified Nigerian specialists working abroad to obtain fellowship in the College.
“More than 80 diaspora professionals applied during the first phase of the programme.”
According to Ikefuna, tapping into this pool of expertise will strengthen training and expand the College’s global network.
Raising the College’s visibility
Improving the visibility of the College and its academic output is another major focus of the new leadership.
Ikefuna urged fellows to include the College as their institutional affiliation when publishing research papers or making official academic communications.
Such recognition, he said, would improve the institution’s publication metrics and enhance its global standing.
He also hinted that the College also plans to introduce a periodic newsletter that will keep fellows informed about key developments, academic activities and research achievements.
“The newsletter will be distributed through digital platforms including email networks, faculty communication channels and the College website.
In addition, the administration is working to develop a more user-friendly website that reflects activities across all faculties and provides easier access to information,” he said.
Speaking on examination, he said maintaining high standards in specialist examinations remains central to the College’s mission.
Ikefuna said the institution will continue to use established standard-setting methods in its examinations in line with global best practices.
“To strengthen oversight, the College has developed a quality assurance assessment checklist designed to monitor examination processes across faculties.
“The system will provide objective feedback on compliance with approved assessment methods while helping faculties improve the management of their examinations.
“To encourage adherence to these standards, the College will introduce a new recognition programme.
“The Dr. Christopher Ekundayo Famewo Quality Assurance Prize will be awarded annually to the faculty that demonstrates the highest level of compliance with quality assurance guidelines.
“Named in honour of a former College president who died shortly after assuming office in 1998, the award will carry a ₦500,000 cash prize and a commemorative trophy.
“The first edition of the award will be presented during the College’s 2026 convocation ceremony,” he explained.
Despite the ambitious reform plans, the new president acknowledged that several infrastructure and operational challenges must be addressed to sustain progress.
One of the most pressing needs according to the president is the establishment of a dedicated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centre within the College.
“Currently, primary and Part I examinations are conducted at designated centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
“A centralised CBT facility would allow the College to monitor examination processes more effectively, improve security of test items and generate detailed performance reports.
“It would also enable written and computer-based assessments to be conducted within the same environment, improving the overall examination experience for candidates,” he said.
The College is also seeking to establish clinical skills and simulation laboratories in selected centres across Nigeria.
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These facilities according to the president will enable trainees to practice procedures using high-fidelity mannequins and simulation technologies before applying them in real clinical settings.
Such systems are widely used in modern medical education to enhance clinical competence and reduce risks to patients.
The four proposed locations identified as potential training hubs in order to ensure national coverage are Lagos, Abuja, Enugu and Kano
The simulation centres will also support multidisciplinary training programmes involving multiple medical specialties.
Another innovation proposed by the administration is the creation of an ICT-enabled telemedicine centre.
The platform intends to allow trainees and trainers to participate in remote consultations, lectures and case discussions with specialists across the world.
“Through video conferencing and other digital tools, resident doctors will be able to observe clinical demonstrations and grand rounds without travelling to distant locations,” he said.
Ikefuna said the centre would expose trainees to modern technology-driven healthcare systems while expanding opportunities for international collaboration.
The College also plans to improve facilities within its campus to support training and administrative activities.
One proposal involves constructing additional guest accommodation to serve visiting fellows, trainees and participants attending examinations and convocations.
The president said the facility would provide affordable lodging and improve the comfort of guests who travel to the College for official activities.
“There are also plans to upgrade road networks, lighting and general infrastructure within the campus to enhance safety, accessibility and aesthetics,” he added.
The president said the reforms represent more than administrative changes.
“They are part of a broader effort to ensure that Nigeria continues to produce highly skilled medical specialists capable of addressing complex healthcare challenges.
“By embracing digital learning tools, strengthening research systems and expanding global partnerships, the College aims to position itself as a leading institution in postgraduate medical education,” he said.
The success of the reforms, he noted, will depend on collective commitment from fellows, trainers and stakeholders across the medical community.
“We can attain that feat when we work together as a team for that common goal,” Ikefuna said, emphasising the importance of collaboration in sustaining the College’s progress.