Despite Brain Drain Challenge, NPMCN Graduates 480 Mew Specialists
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The President of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria, NPMCN, Dr. Peter N. Ebeigbe, on Wednesday said the College remains resilient in its mandate to train specialists despite the impact of brain drain on fellowship numbers.
Speaking at a pre-convocation press conference ahead of the College’s 43rd convocation ceremony, he announced that 480 new doctors will receive fellowships and other postgraduate awards this year.
Ebeigbe explained that this year’s awardees include 405 Fellows, 34 Doctor of Medicine recipients, 37 Diplomates in Family Medicine, four Distinguished Fellows, and four postgraduate diploma recipients in Anaesthesia and Public Health.
“Our graduands this year are a testament to the resilience and brilliance of Nigerian doctors, even in the face of adversity. Together, we can build a health system Nigerians can be proud of,” he said.
The College President noted that while the College has sustained its output of specialists, the trend of migration, popularly known as japa, has had a noticeable effect on postgraduate medical training.
“From the data available, while it is difficult to conclude that the steady drop caused by the ‘Japa syndrome’ has stopped, it appears that some stability in numbers may be setting in,” he said.
Records from the College show that fellowship awards peaked at
-1). 450 and 459 in 2019 and 2020,
-2). Before dropping sharply to 310 in 2021.
-3). In recent years, the numbers rose again to 407 in 2023
-4). But dipped to 338 in 2024.
Despite the challenges, Ebeigbe highlighted several milestones, including the expansion of postgraduate training programmes.“The Faculty of Emergency Medicine, our sixteenth faculty, has reached the stage where its first cohort of trainees will sit for their Part 1 Fellowship Examinations in October 2025,” he said.
Other innovations include the introduction of -1). Interventional radiology,
-2). Interventional cardiology,
-3). Nuclear medicine,
-4). Pain medicine, and
-5). Critical care medicine across various faculties.
The College has also accredited over 200 training centres nationwide, expanding access to specialist training in underserved regions.
Ebeigbe also pointed to the College’s digital transformation.
“Much of our administrative, monitoring, evaluation, and assessment processes are now done in real time online. We conduct part of our examinations through secure computer-based testing across multiple centres nationwide,” he explained.
On international collaborations, he disclosed that the College is deepening partnerships with sister institutions in the UK, USA, and Africa. These include advanced discussions with five Royal Colleges and collaborations with the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons, as well as the East, Central, and South African College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Despite economic challenges, the College President reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to innovation and relevance. “We continually review our curricula to align with evolving healthcare needs and global trends, including telemedicine, genomics, and artificial intelligence in clinical care,” he said.
Ebeigbe called on government, the private sector, and international partners to sustain support for postgraduate medical training in Nigeria. “This convocation is not just about certificates and titles, but about the promise of improved healthcare for our people,” he stated.
"Nigeria’s Healthcare Future Depends on Specialists – Health Minister."The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate, on Thursday, said the future of Nigeria’s healthcare system depends on specialists in the sector.
Pate made the remark at the 43rd Convocation Ceremony of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), Lagos, where 480 distinguished fellows were celebrated. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pate was represented by Dr Jimoh Salaudeen.
The convocation, with the theme ‘A Pandemic, Examination and a Degree’, highlighted the importance of postgraduate medical education in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Pate described the event as both a celebration of academic excellence and a reaffirmation of NPMCN’s crucial role in national healthcare delivery. He said the graduates formed the backbone of specialist healthcare services across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
“The Ministry, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, will strengthen collaboration with NPMCN to ensure a resilient, responsive and people-centred health system,” he said. He urged graduates to let their expertise and compassion serve humanity within and beyond Nigeria’s shores.
The minister said the occasion represented years of sacrifice, diligence, and perseverance, adding that resilience and focus had brought the fellows to this defining moment. He praised NPMCN for over four decades of consistency in pursuing excellence, calling it the flagship of postgraduate medical education in Nigeria.
“The college has set standards, accredited training institutions, and produced generations of medical specialists who continue shaping healthcare delivery nationwide,” he said.
Pate commended the foresight of NPMCN’s founders and leaders, noting their dedication had elevated the college to global recognition.
He outlined the four-point agenda of the President’s Renewed Hope plan, stressing the need to strengthen human resources in healthcare alongside infrastructure, service delivery, research and funding. “Without a strong and well-trained workforce, no health system can thrive. That makes NPMCN indispensable,” he said.
The minister pledged continuous engagement with the college, while acknowledging its challenges. He said the government was considering special funding to fast-track specialist training and reduce brain drain.
Other measures include access to technology funds, support for endowment fundraising, simulation equipment, capacity building, expanded residency training, and nationwide spread of college activities. He reassured the college that a prioritised, phased approach would be adopted to ensure real progress.
The minister also congratulated distinguished fellows, including Dr. Sebastian Nduleogosu, Dr. Dili Ndogo, Dr. Chukwuemeka Anolue, Dr. Fatou Abiola, and Ruth Mudadi.“Your achievements testify to your resilience, sacrifice, and commitment to service,” he said.
Earlier, College President Dr Peter Ebeigbe confirmed that 480 individuals were receiving awards in various categories. He said 405 would receive specialty and subspecialty fellowships across 15 faculties, while 34 were to be awarded the Doctor of Medicine. Two each would earn Postgraduate Diplomas in Anaesthesia and Public Health, while 37 would obtain Diplomas in Family Medicine.
He noted that the college had conferred Distinguished Fellowships on 63 fellows, Fellowships on 9,151, and Honorary Fellowships on 35 individuals.
Ebeigbe stated that fellowship awards peaked in 2019 and 2020, with 450 and 459 graduates, respectively, before declining to 310 in 2021. He added that outputs stood at 407 in 2023 and 338 in 2024, reflecting steady fluctuations in recent years. The college, he said, remained grateful for strong ties with sister postgraduate medical colleges in Africa and beyond.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/09/nigerias-healthcare-future-depends-on-specialists-health-minister/
