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History of Residency Training In Nigeria The history of residency training in Nigeria really stated in 1966 as prior to that all professional postgraduate medical training for Nigerians took place entirely overseas. In 1966, Dr J.O. Mabayoje (Registrar of Nigerian Medical Council) first mooted the idea of setting up a postgraduate medical college of Nigeria and following consultation with senior specialists, examining boards were set up in 1966.
These examining boards drew up curricula for postgraduate training of doctors and dentists on behalf of Nigerian Medical Council. Some important timelines include: In 1969 – decree 44 promulgated to conduct postgraduate examinations with external examiners and award fellowship diplomas. In 1970- Nigerian Medical Council (postgraduate examination) regulations including the syllabi were published. Mandatory intensive 6-month basic medical science courses to prepare candidates for primary fellowship exams were started in Lagos and Ibadan in September and October 1971 respectively. — In 1971, the Nigerian Medical Association, at its Annual General Meeting, commended the efforts of the Nigerian Medical Council for fashioning a functional postgraduate medical programme for doctors and dentists in the country. It was nevertheless argued that the Council, which is the statutory body that assesses and registers medical qualifications, should not be training and examining body. It was on the basis of this argument that Professor E. Adeyemo Elebute tabled a resolution praying the Nigerian Medical Council set up a separate body which would conduct postgraduate training and examinations in Nigeria. This resolution was unanimously carried. In November 1973, the first part 1 fellowship exams in internal medicine were conducted. In 1976, the first fellows by examination of this programme were produced. ■ On 24 ” September 1979, Decree 67 was promulgated to give legal backing to the establishment of National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria during the regime of Gen Obasanjo as Commander in Chief. This severed the umbilical cord linking the college and the council. • In May 1972, the assembly of health ministers (West Africa) decided to establish West African Postgraduate Medical College. The constitution of WAPMC was completed in 1975 and signed by the Ministers On 13r May 1975. WAPMC was to have WACS and WACP. The treaty was ratified on 25’ October 1978. Since their inception, both training programmes have produced the bulk of the specialists for Nigeria and other West African countries.