Professor Mohammad Aminu Mohammad, who currently serves as the President of the Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), emphasized the crucial role played by both the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) in upholding the standards of excellence in education and fostering the development of expertise within the medical field in Nigeria.Â
Professor Mohammad underscored the pivotal importance of these institutions in ensuring the delivery of high-quality medical education and in overseeing the professional standards and practices of medical and dental professionals across the country.
He expounded on the idea that the NUC, as the regulatory body for university education in Nigeria, plays a key role in shaping and maintaining the curriculum and educational standards of medical programs offered by universities.
Simultaneously, the MDCN, as the regulatory body for medical and dental practice, holds a vital responsibility in setting and maintaining the professional standards, ethics, and licensing requirements for medical practitioners in Nigeria.
Professor Mohammad elucidated how the collaboration between these two entities is essential for the continuous enhancement of medical education and the overall advancement of the medical profession in the country.
The intricate interplay between the NUC and the MDCN, as highlighted by Professor Mohammad, serves as a cornerstone in ensuring that the medical and dental field in Nigeria consistently produces highly competent professionals capable of meeting the healthcare needs of the nation.
He expressed that doctors trained in Nigeria are highly marketable globally due to their ability to adapt to various situations, a skill acquired through their training in the country.
In an exclusive interview in Jos, Prof. Mohammad identified certain challenges faced by medical students in Nigerian universities.
He mentioned that some students, perhaps not fully comprehending the demands of medical studies, engage in extra-curricular activities that adversely affect their academic performance.
This lack of focus, he noted, could lead to withdrawal from universities before completing their medical education.
Additionally, the president pointed out that the rigors of medical studies, combined with students’ involvement in activities outside academics, contribute to challenges in maintaining concentration and achieving satisfactory academic results.
Consequently, this may result in some students being unable to complete their medical education within the university system.
Prof. Mohammad emphasized the global desirability of doctors trained in Nigeria while shedding light on the factors such as extra-curricular activities and academic challenges that may impact the completion of medical studies in the country.
