FG targets 20,000 medical students yearly, unveils six simulation centres

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as it targets an increase in annual medical school admissions to 20,000 within the next three years.

The move is part of efforts to expand the country’s healthcare workforce and strengthen practical training for medical and other health professional students amid concerns over the migration of Nigerian-trained healthcare workers.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee.

This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Office of the Minister of Education and signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Ikharo Attah.

Alausa said the proposed centres would provide world-class practical training for medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and other allied healthcare students.

He said, “I would like to thank the members of the committee that have 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.”

According to the minister, the centres would be established across the six geopolitical zones and would support the Federal Government’s plan to expand Nigeria’s healthcare workforce under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Alausa said the expansion had become necessary following the significant increase in enrolment into health-related programmes.

He disclosed that nursing enrolment, which stood at about 38,000 three years ago, had risen to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools in the country.

The minister added that annual admission into medical schools had increased from about 5,000 students when Tinubu assumed office to almost 12,000 currently.

“Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students. 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 said.

He added that the number of students admitted into pharmacy and dental schools had also increased.

The minister commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr Wale Suleiman, and other members for their work in preparing the report and advancing plans for the centres.

He said the initiative would help ensure that the increasing number of students entering healthcare professions received adequate practical training.

The planned expansion comes against the backdrop of persistent concerns over the migration, popularly known as “Japa,” of Nigerian doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals seeking better remuneration, working conditions and career opportunities abroad.

The migration of health workers has raised concerns among professional bodies and health-sector stakeholders about its impact on Nigeria’s already strained healthcare system, particularly shortages of skilled personnel in public hospitals.

With the proposed simulation centres, the government is seeking to expand training capacity while improving the quality of practical education for a growing pool of health professional students.

Alausa described the development as evidence of the administration’s commitment to improving education and developing the workforce required to meet Nigeria’s future needs.

He said, “President Bola 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 Bola’s fervent and benevolent belief in the progress and benefit of the future of Nigeria.”