Ikefuna takes over as 24th NPMCN President

2026-02-28 - 00:26

By Chioma Obinna The National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) has formally ushered in a new era of leadership with the investiture of Professor Anthony Nnaemeka Ikefuna as its 24th President. Professor Ikefuna, a distinguished paediatrician and seasoned medical educator, was elected at the College’s 137th Governing Board Meeting recently. His investiture ceremony is scheduled next week at the College premises, where fellows, academics and health sector leaders are expected to gather to witness the transition. His colleagues have described his emergence as a defining moment for postgraduate medical education in Nigeria. “Professor Ikefuna represents continuity, experience and integrity,” a senior fellow of the College said. “He understands the system deeply and has contributed significantly to strengthening examination standards, accreditation processes and fellowship training.” A graduate of the University of Ibadan, where he studied on a Federal Government scholarship, Ikefuna specialized in Paediatrics at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. He later rose through the ranks to become Professor of Paediatrics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka in 2011. Within the College, he has served in multiple strategic capacities, including Vice President, Chairman, Secretary, Senate Member and Chief Examiner of the Faculty of Paediatrics. He also chaired key committees such as the Quality Assurance Committee, Disciplinary Committee and the Senate Committee on Credentials and Fellowship Award (SCCFA). In these roles, he coordinated examinations, led accreditation visits to training institutions and mentored generations of paediatricians through the College’s rigorous Fellowship programmes. “His commitment to excellence is unwavering,” another governing board member noted. “He has always insisted that specialist training in Nigeria must meet global standards.” Beyond administration, Professor Ikefuna has built an impressive academic portfolio. He has published over 150 peer-reviewed articles and authored book chapters widely used by medical students and resident doctors. He has supervised more than 70 Fellowship dissertations and numerous postgraduate theses, with many of his mentees advancing to senior academic and clinical positions, including professorships. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, a Foundation Fellow of the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Medicine. In a congratulatory message, the College’s management and staff expressed confidence in his leadership. “We are proud to see Professor Ikefuna take on this responsibility,” the statement read. “We are confident that under his presidency, the College will continue to advance medical education and uphold the highest standards of professional excellence.”