Officials of the West African College of Physicians (WACP) on Thursday were at the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) to conduct a facility tour and sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) ahead of the institution’s plan to start a PhD programme in clinical sciences.
The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, during the meeting held at UNIMED council chamber on Laje Road, Ondo, said the programme is unique due to the university’s broad dimensions of experience and expertise.
Fatusi emphasized the readiness of the university to partner because of the available resources in terms of human, infrastructure, and curriculum, which meet NUC criteria.
He noted that in a world with a greater drive for science and research, complementary partnerships like this are crucial.
According to him, “We are the only university in West Africa to have signed a partnership with the West African College of Surgeons, which complements the West African College of Physicians. We already have a PhD program with over 50 people enrolled.
“As the West African College of Physicians joins us, it will deepen, strengthen, and broaden what we are doing.
“The advantage of this partnership is that postgraduate students won’t need to rely solely on our staff as their supervisors. They will benefit from the expertise available within the West African College of Physicians.
“If you are a student here in a fellowship program, anyone in your specialty across the West African College of Physicians can supervise you.
“This partnership will drive the health professions education landscape in Nigeria forward, benefiting not just our university and the West African College of Physicians, but our entire nation and West Africa,” he stressed.
Dr. Madaki Jeremiah Aboi, the national chairman and college vice president of the West African College of Physicians Nigeria chapter, said the college is a specialized agency responsible for training postgraduate medical doctors.
He noted that the college trains doctors in six specialties: family medicine, community health, laboratory medicine, psychiatry, pediatrics, and internal medicine.
According to him, the partnership with UNIMED will provide a PhD program that will complement the professional training of medical doctors in Nigeria and West Africa.
In his words, “The college has a fellowship program for the professional training of doctors to ensure they provide high-quality service.
“What we seek in the PhD program is to enhance those complementary skills that will further what we do as professional doctors,” he noted.
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