The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to raise annual admission into Nigeria’s medical schools to about 20,000 students within the next three years as part of measures to expand the nation’s healthcare workforce.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the target while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee, according to a statement issued by his media aide, Ikharo Attah.

Alausa said the government would establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The facilities are expected to support practical training for the increasing number of students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied healthcare disciplines.

He explained that expanding healthcare education was necessary to meet the country’s rising demand for qualified professionals, while ensuring that higher student enrolment is accompanied by adequate practical training and quality education.

According to the minister, annual admission into medical schools has increased significantly since President Bola Tinubu assumed office, rising from about 5,000 students to almost 12,000 currently.

“Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students primarily now. Our goal in the next three years is to increase the number of annual medical student enrollment in medical school to about 20,000,” he said.

The expansion, Alausa noted, is also being recorded beyond medical schools, with admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes doubling.

Nursing enrolment has recorded an even sharper increase, he added, moving from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools nationwide.

Against this backdrop, Alausa said the planned TETFund medical simulation centres would give students access to hands-on training as the government continues to widen opportunities for healthcare education.

“I would like to thank the members of the committee that has worked so hard and assiduously to get us to this point in which we are now talking about building several simulation centres across the country to provide world-class training for our medical students, dental students, nursing students, pharmacy students and other allied healthcare professionals,” he said.

The minister said the initiative is also consistent with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and raising the standard of education.

He commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr. Wale Suleiman, along with other committee members, for their efforts in producing the report and progressing plans for the proposed centres.

Alausa also recognised contributions from key professional and academic stakeholders, including the Registrar of the Medical Emergencies Council, the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and a professor in the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) at the University of Abuja Medical School.

He described the planned development as another indication of the Tinubu administration’s efforts to improve education quality and strengthen human capital development.

“The government is committed to providing the best and the highest quality of education to every child in this country. We are seeing it, we are seeing the result now. It’s another manifestation of President Tinubu’s fervent and benevolent belief in the progress and benefit of the future of Nigeria,” he added.

The Minister assured that the Federal Government would sustain its support for the proposed TETFund Medical Simulation Centres and the nationwide expansion of healthcare training.

He said the broader objective is to enable more Nigerian students to obtain quality professional education while building the skilled workforce needed to reinforce the country’s healthcare system.

Source: The Sun