The Federal Government says it plans to raise annual admission into medical schools across the country to 20,000 within the next three years, while establishing six medical simulation centres to improve practical training.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee.
According to Alausa, the proposed centres will be located across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and will provide practical training for students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions.
He said the initiative was necessary to keep pace with the rising number of students enrolling in healthcare-related programmes and to strengthen the country’s health workforce.
The minister noted that nursing enrolment had grown substantially, rising from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 currently.
He added that admission into medical schools had also increased from approximately 5,000 students when President Bola Tinubu assumed office to nearly 12,000 at present.
Alausa said the government intended to build on the progress.
«“Our goal in the next three years will be to increase the number of annual medical student enrolment in medical schools to about 20,000.”»
He explained that the simulation centres would help institutions cope with the growing student population while ensuring that students receive adequate hands-on training before entering professional practice.
The minister also disclosed that enrolment in pharmacy and dental programmes had increased, making additional training infrastructure necessary.
Alausa commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr Wale Suleiman, and other members for their contribution to the development of the project.
He said the centres would support the Federal Government’s efforts to develop a larger and better-trained healthcare workforce under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The plan comes amid persistent concerns over the migration of Nigerian-trained doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals abroad, a trend popularly described as “Japa.”
The movement of health workers has raised concerns over manpower shortages and the capacity of hospitals to provide quality healthcare, particularly in the public sector.
The government hopes that increased admission capacity, combined with improved practical training, will strengthen the pipeline of healthcare professionals needed to meet the country’s future demands.
Alausa said the initiative reflected the administration’s commitment to improving education and investing in Nigeria’s human capital.
“President Bola is committed to providing the best and the highest quality of education to every child in this country.”
He added that the government was already seeing evidence of what he described as the President’s commitment to the country’s future.
