MEDICAL STUDENTS TO SPEND 11 YEARS - NUC

Medical students to spend 11 years – NUC

The National Universities Commission has stated that

any student who wants to study medicine will

henceforth spend a minimum of 10 to 11 years for the

programme.

Its Executive Secretary, Prof. Julius Okojie, stated this

while delivering a lecture at the matriculation and

inauguration of the University of Medical Science,

Ondo, Ondo State.

In a lecture titled ‘Development of Medical Education:

Prospects and Challenges’, Okojie, represented by the

Deputy Executive Secretary of the commission, Prof.

Chiedu Mafiana, said the move became imperative in

order to enable the students to mature psychologically

for the profession.

He said the 2015 document for the training of medical

students made provision for students to spend four

years studying basic sciences after which they would

proceed to the medical school to spend another seven

years.

Okojie added, “The new benchmark still retains the

fundamental learning objectives that seek to achieve

national development goals as well as a sustainable

development goal.”

Stressing the need for adequate funding of medical

training and practice, Okojie urged the university

authorities to ensure the judicious use of the money

earmarked for the development of the institution.

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, urged the

university to leverage on the benefits of the medical

complex around it to advance efforts in research and

training.

Mimiko, who is the Visitor to school, also expressed

optimism that the institution would be a leading

platform for raising crops of competent individuals in

the various health disciplines.

“It is our hope and belief that it will provide sound

scientific, technological and professional training to

address identified health needs and problems, solve

them within the context of community and national

needs and sustainable development,” the Visitor said.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Friday

Okonofua, who said the institution would achieve its

objectives, appealed to all well-meaning Nigerians to

support its  ‘Friends of UNIMED Funds’ initiative,

targeted at raising N1bn for the school.

He also commended the state government for

establishing the university.

Culled from Punch mobile