The Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abubakar Adamu Rasheed, mni, MFR, FNAL, was recently conferred with Fellow of the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (FNSP), the highest award for a non-member, for his selfless service and support in advancing the cause of the Society and Physiotherapy profession at large.
While expressing appreciation for the award, Prof. Rasheed informed the delegation that copies of the curriculum for Physiotherapy programme currently undergoing review, would be sent to Vice Chancellors of Universities for their input.
He said that as part of the review, students on the programme would now spend six years for course work and clinicals and one year internship leading to the award of Doctor of Physiotherapy. Professor Rasheed stated that the review of the curriculum for physiotherapy programme became necessary in order to meet global best practices. He said that due to the changes in the curriculum, NUC would notify the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation respectively.
He stated that concerted efforts were being put in place to improve funding for Medical colleges, adding that NUC would continue to look into the issue of carrying capacity so as to encourage Medical colleges with required resource capabilities to increase their carrying capacities. He stressed that most Medical Colleges in Nigeria had adequate number of teaching and technical staff as well as facilities to admit more than they currently do.
The NUC scribe however lamented that Nigeria was suffering from huge deficit of health practitioners due to challenge of access despite the overwhelming number of students seeking admission. This, he said, was because universities could not admit more due to the carrying capacity imposed on them.
He noted that it was an anomaly for Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to fix admission quota for Medicine and Surgery at fifty students per intake, while the Council was not backed by law. He assured that the Commission would continue work towards achieving a university system that would be the dream of the nation.
Contributing, the Director of Academic Planning, Dr. Giddado Kumo, advised the NSP to be in synergy with MDCN to avoid conflicts of interest on the on-going curriculum review of Physiotherapy programme. He said that NUC would provide a platform for the two bodies to discuss areas of concerns and proffer the way forward for Medical discipline.
In his response, the President of NSP, Dr. Rufai Yusuf Ahmad, thanked the Executive Secretary for identifying with Physiotherapists in Nigeria with regards to Doctor of Physiotherapy programme. He assured the Commission that NSP would use the opportunity to improve physiotherapy services in public health, stressing that the award conferred on the Prof. Rasheed was the highest award given to non-members. He also informed that the investiture would take place at the opening ceremony of NSP forthcoming Annual Scientific Conference and General Meeting on 25th October, 2018, at Port-Harcourt, Rivers State,
The NUC Directors in attendance were; Director, Academic Planning, Dr. Gidado Bello Kumo; and Director, Establishment of Private Universities, Mr. Abdullahi Hamza.
Other members of the delegation include Prof. A.Y. Oyeyemi, Chairman, NSP Abuja chapter, Mr. Gado Charles; Public Relations Officer, Abuja Chapter, Mr. Aze Nnamdi, and Assistant Director, FCTA, Mr. A. Moses.
