Post graduate medical college graduates 386 today

By: Adegunle Olugbamila
Three hundred and eighty six post graduate students of National Postgraduate Medical College (NPMC) in Ijaninkin, Lagos will be awarded fellowship at its 35th convocation today.

The college President, Dr Ademola Abayomi Olaitan, said at a briefing last week that the graduates had successfully completed the compulsory clinical placements and rotations of not less than five years in accredited teaching/specialist hospitals and passed the prescribed examinations, bringing the number of fellows trained by the college to 5,773.

Among other achievements of the institution according to Olaitan, is the quality of training provided by the college, which has saved the nation a fortune that could have been spent on overseas training.

The College Board, he said, has approved computer based tests for Part 1 fellowship examination, adding that the NPMC was the first to start such initiative in Sub Saharan Africa.

Olaitan added that the administration of the college has also been fully computerised.

“In moving the college ahead , the Governing Board approved the computerisation of all college processes and procedures, including fellowship examinations. The essence is to have a paperless and environment-friendly institution. The process started with digitalisation of records, commencement of electronic Senate, Governing Board and other meetings, and then deployment of CBT,” he said.

He appealed to government to reconstitute the board of Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria ,which was dissolved about two years ago.

“This very important body (MDCN) has operated without a board since the former board was dissolved over two years ago. We are aware that membership are almost by representation except the post of the chairman. The reconstitution of the board will allow the council perform her statutory functions, which are crucial to the smooth running of medical services without hindrance,” he said.

At today’s convocation, the college will confer ‘honorary fellowship’ on some dignitaries, while some past registrars and president of the institution will be honoured with ‘distinguished fellowship”

Last week Thursday, the college held its second award of diploma to graduates in Family Medicine and first in Anaesthesia.