By Godfrey AKON
The National Universities Commission, NUC, has disassociated itself from the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science, DMLS, programme, stating, unequivocally, that it is not an approved offering in any Nigerian university.
The commission, in a statement by its Acting Director of Public Affairs, Mrs. Franca Elochi Chukwuonwo, on Wednesday, stressed that the DMLS programme is neither included in the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards, BMAS, nor the Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards, CCMAS, of the NUC.
NUC therefore urged members of the public to disregard any claims about the existence or recognition of such a programme.
The commission clarified that while it has recently upgraded certain medical-related programs to align with global best practices, the DMLS programme is not part of this initiative.
According to the statement, the upgrades were aimed at incorporating more clinical and practical training, enhancing foundational courses, and comprehensively addressing specialty areas to improve the quality of graduates.
The statement outlined the programmes that have been upgraded to a “doctor status,” bachelor’s degrees with clinical sessions, which include: Doctor of Pharmacy, Pharm D, Doctor of Physiotherapy, DPT, and Doctor of Optometry, O.D.
“To accommodate these changes, the duration of the upgraded programs has been extended from five to six years.
“This adjustment allows for additional coursework and clinical sessions, ensuring graduates are better equipped for global competitiveness, employability, and further academic pursuits,” the commission said.
NUC reiterated that the DMLS programme is not recognized in Nigeria’s university curriculum and does not exist under its approved standards.
The commission described the claims about DMLS as baseless and outside the purview of its regulated academic offerings.
It advised the general public, prospective students, and stakeholders to rely on accurate information from official sources and disregard any unauthorized programs purportedly linked to the Nigerian university system.
