FG Targets Annual Enrolment Of 20,000 Medical Students In Three Years
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa has announced the Federal Government’s plan to increase annual medical student enrolment to about 20,000 within the next three years.
Special Adviser to the Minister on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah who disclosed this in a statement on Sunday said he gave the announcement while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee.
Dr. Alausa describing the initiative as a major step towards providing high-quality practical training for medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and other allied healthcare students.
He said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, to expand Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and ensure that the growing number of students entering health professions are equipped with quality training.
“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,” the Minister said.
Dr. Alausa said the need to strengthen practical training has become increasingly important as the country records a significant rise in enrolment and admission into healthcare-related programmes.
According to him, nursing enrolment, which stood at about 38,000 three years ago, has now increased to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools in the country.
He further disclosed that annual admission into medical schools had risen from about 5,000 students when President Tinubu assumed office to almost 12,000 students.
“Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students primarily now. Our goal in the next three years will increase the number of annual medical student enrollment in medical school to about 20,000,” he stated.
He added that the number of students admitted into pharmacy and dental schools had also doubled, further expanding the pool of healthcare professionals being trained to serve the country.
Dr. Alausa commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr. Wale Suleiman, and other members for their hard work and commitment in preparing the report and advancing plans for the proposed centres.
He also acknowledged the participation of 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, as well as a Professor in the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat at the University of Abuja Medical School.
Describing the development as another demonstration of President Tinubu’s commitment to improving the quality of education in Nigeria, Dr. Alausa said the progress being recorded in healthcare education was already producing visible results.
The Minister assured that the President Tinubu-led administration would continue to advance the development of the proposed TETFund Medical Simulation Centres and support the expansion of healthcare training, with the objective of providing more Nigerian students with access to high-quality professional education and strengthening the workforce needed for the country’s future.
