Cost of Studying Neurosurgery in Nigeria
What is Neurosurgery?
Neurosurgery is the surgical treatment of the nervous system.
Neurosurgery, also known as brain surgery, is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, surgical treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders affecting any part of the nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, central and peripheral nervous systems, and cerebrovascular system.
Most people associate neurosurgery with brain surgery, but it is actually more than that.
It is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from injuries to, or diseases/disorders of, the brain, spinal cord, and spinal column, as well as peripheral nerves in all parts of the body.
Adult and pediatric patients are both treated in the field of neurosurgery.
A neurological surgeon may provide surgical and/or non-surgical care depending on the nature of the injury or disease.
What is the Role of a Neurosurgeon?
A neurosurgeon is a doctor who specializes in brain surgery.
Neurosurgeons are medically trained neurosurgical specialists who can help patients with back and neck pain, as well as a variety of other illnesses ranging from trigeminal neuralgia to head injury and Parkinson’s disease.
Neurosurgeons manage neurological disorders both surgically and non-surgically (i.e., prevention, diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, critical care, and rehabilitation).
Because neurosurgeons have extensive training in the diagnosis of all neurological diseases, they are frequently consulted by emergency room doctors, neurologists, internists, family practitioners, and osteopaths.
Is Neurosurgery Studied in Nigeria?
Yes, neurosurgery is studied in Nigeria, but not at bachelor’s level.
There is no university in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world that offers degree programs in neurosurgery.
Neurosurgery is a postgraduate training programme.
Before you can go ahead with the training, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) must certify you as a medical practitioner.
Following that, you will be required to take and pass a type of medical exam known as ‘Primaries‘ before applying for residency training in Neurosurgery.
Another 6 to 7 years are required to be certified as a specialist, consultant, or professional in Neurosurgery.
Furthermore, neurosurgery is governed by the West African College of Surgeons (WACS) rather than the Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC).
In Nigeria, it takes a total of 15 years to become a neurosurgeon: 6 years in medical school, 1 year of mandatory housemanship, 1 year of mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and 7 years of residency training in any of the accredited teaching hospitals or federal medical centres.
The accredited teaching hospitals that train doctors to become neurosurgery specialists are as follows:
- Usmanu Danfodiyyo Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, Sokoto State
- University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State
- University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
- Ahmadu Bello Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna
- University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State.
- Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ife, Osun State.
- Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos State.
- University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, Rivers State (UPTH has partial accreditation)
- Memfys Hospital for Neurosugery, Enugu (This is the only privately-owned hospital that has been given full accreditation by the West African College of Surgeons (WACS), in Nigeria, for residency training.
- Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano.
How Many Years does it Take to Study Neurosurgery in Nigeria?
In Nigeria, it takes a total of 15 years to become a neurosurgeon: 6 years in medical school, 1 year of mandatory housemanship, and 1 year for the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and 7 years of residency training in any of the accredited teaching hospitals or federal medical centres.
How Much is Schooling for a Neurosurgeon?
Becoming a neurosurgeon requires proper training. And this cost around $300,000. In Nigeria, you are required to pay millions of naira.
What is the Highest Paid Surgeon Specialty?
For the past four years, neurosurgery has been the highest-paying physician speciality.
An entry-level neurosurgeon with 1-4 years of experience earns N4,800,000 in total compensation (tips, bonus, and overtime pay included).
An experienced Neurosurgeon with 10-19 years of experience earns a total compensation of $14,000,000 on average.
