FG Targets 20,000 Medical Students Annually, Plans Six-Zone Simulation Centres

The Federal Government has set a target of increasing annual admission into medical schools to 20,000 students within the next three years, even as it plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Sunday while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee, saying the proposed centres would provide practical training for the growing number of students entering the medical and allied health professions.

Alausa said annual admission into medical schools had increased from about 5,000 students when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office to almost 12,000 currently, with the government now targeting 20,000 annual admissions within the next three years.

He said: “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.”

The Minister explained that the planned simulation centres had become necessary to ensure that the expansion in admission was matched by quality practical training for medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and other allied healthcare students.

“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 disclosed that the expansion was already evident across other healthcare disciplines, noting that nursing enrolment had risen from about 38,000 three years ago to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools in the country.

The minister in a statement signed by his Special Adviser Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, noted that admissions into pharmacy and dental schools had also doubled, further increasing the number of healthcare professionals being trained for the country.

Alausa said the six-zone simulation centres would strengthen hands-on training and ensure that the growing number of healthcare students had access to modern facilities and quality professional education.

He said the initiative was in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.

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 the proposed project.

He also acknowledged the contributions 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 and a professor in the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat at the University of Abuja Medical School.

Describing the initiative as another demonstration of the President’s commitment to improving the quality of education, Alausa said the administration was already seeing results from its efforts to expand access to professional education.

“This person, 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 to the progress and benefit of the future of Nigeria,” he added.

Alausa assured that the administration would continue to support the development of the proposed TETFund Medical Simulation Centres and the expansion of healthcare training nationwide.