Integrating genomics education into Nigerian undergraduate medical training - A narrative review

Abstract

Nigeria, as well as other low- and middle-income countries, still lags significantly behind in the development, understanding, and application of genomics-based approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. To close this gap, and to enjoy the monumental opportunities of genomics and precision medicine, training and education in genomics must become a priority and must commence early enough in medical training. This article presents a synopsis of the development of genomics, the current state of genomics research and education with a focus on Nigeria and importantly, provides critical suggestions on how best to integrate genomics into undergraduate medical training in Nigeria. There is no doubt about the need to prepare Nigerian physicians to be able to tap adequately into the countless opportunities of the genomics era. As a matter of urgency, steps must be taken to introduce carefully designed, unified and competency-based genomics training module based on sound pedagogy into the Nigerian medical undergraduate curricula.