The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) will certify 537 medical and dental specialists at its 44th convocation ceremony on Thursday, September 17, 2026, as the institution expands specialist training to address Nigeria’s growing healthcare needs.
President of the College, Prof. Anthony N. Ikefuna, disclosed this on Wednesday at the pre-convocation press briefing in Lagos, saying the ceremony would mark another milestone in postgraduate medical education and specialist healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Ikefuna said the Fellows had successfully completed the rigorous postgraduate training and examinations required to qualify as specialists and consultants, adding that their certification would strengthen the country’s specialist workforce.
He said the convocation was not merely a ceremonial gathering but an opportunity to recognise the resilience of resident doctors, appreciate trainers and supervising authorities, and reinforce the value of structured postgraduate medical education.
“This convocation ceremony is an opportunity to celebrate another year of successful postgraduate training, appreciate our trainers as well as our supervising ministry, in addition to conferment of degrees to deserving Fellows,” he said.
A major development highlighted at the briefing was the College’s newest Faculty of Radiation and Clinical Oncology, established to train specialists in the use of ionising radiation and medicines to eliminate cancer cells while sparing healthy tissues.
The specialty is expected to contribute to improved cancer diagnosis and treatment by increasing the pool of highly trained professionals capable of providing specialised oncology services.
The development is particularly significant as Nigeria continues to face a substantial cancer burden, making investment in specialised human resources an important component of strengthening cancer care.
Ikefuna said the College’s curricula were designed to respond to Nigeria’s socioeconomic and epidemiological
realities, ensuring that newly qualified specialists were equipped to address health challenges within the local context.
The NPMCN, established in 1979, is the apex federal government-backed institution responsible for postgraduate medical and dental education, training, assessment and certification of specialists and consultants across medicine and dentistry.
The College currently operates 17 faculties, covering fields including anaesthesia, family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, public health, pathology, psychiatry and oncology.
Beyond certification, the College accredits hospitals for residency training, develops curricula, conducts postgraduate examinations and provides continuing professional development to promote lifelong learning and quality healthcare.
The convocation will also feature conferment of Doctor of Medicine degrees, Fellowships and post-Fellowship Diplomas on successful candidates.
Four senior Fellows distinguished by landmark contributions to medical practice, education, administration and College development will receive the Distinguished Fellowship of the College.
Ikefuna noted that resident doctors face the dual pressure of undergoing full-time specialist training while providing frontline healthcare services, making successful completion of the programme a significant professional achievement.
He said the College would continue strengthening quality assurance, faculty supervision, accreditation and professional development while aligning specialist training with emerging national health needs.
The College also plans to use the convocation to strengthen links between newly certified Fellows and its wider alumni network, while motivating current residents to complete their academic and professional targets.
Going forward, stakeholders must sustain investment in postgraduate medical education, expand accredited training capacity, support resident doctors and ensure that specialist training keeps pace with Nigeria’s changing disease burden.
The College said its forthcoming programmes, including its continuing public enlightenment webinars, would further support knowledge sharing and professional develop.
