The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has inaugurated a Technical Working Group to fast-track the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences, with a mandate to ensure the institution commences academic activities in the 2026 academic session.
Alausa said the proposed college would provide the Nigerian Armed Forces with a steady supply of doctors, nurses and other specialised healthcare professionals trained specifically for military service, ending the military’s long-standing dependence on civilian institutions for the training of its medical personnel.
According to a statement on Friday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Ikharo Attah, the minister described the initiative as a strategic investment in national security and human capital development, stressing that personnel who risk their lives defending the country deserve a healthcare system tailored to their unique operational needs.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Alausa explained that the constitution of the Technical Working Group followed the Federal Government’s approval for the establishment of the institution and marked the transition from policy approval to implementation.
“We cannot continue to leave the brave men and women who defend our nation without a sustainable system for training the healthcare professionals they require. Neither can we continue to expect the Armed Forces to compete with the rest of the country for the limited number of doctors graduating from our universities,” the minister said.
He noted that the initiative complements the Federal Government’s ongoing expansion of medical education across the country.
The minister disclosed that annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry had increased from about 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405 students, adding that the government aims to raise the figure to at least 20,000 within the next two years through the accreditation of more colleges of medicine.
Alausa also highlighted significant progress in nursing education, revealing that annual enrolment had risen from about 28,000 students to nearly 120,000 nationwide, surpassing the administration’s target. He commended the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for maintaining standards that have earned Nigerian nurses global recognition.
He, however, stressed that the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces require a purpose-built institution with programmes specifically designed for military realities.
“This institution is not being established to compete with conventional universities. It is being established to make the Armed Forces self-sufficient in producing the healthcare professionals they require. Every programme should answer one simple question: Does the Armed Forces need it? If the answer is yes, then it should be prioritised,” he said.
The minister urged the Technical Working Group to prioritise programmes such as Occupational Therapy, Prosthetics and Orthotics, Speech Therapy and other specialised disciplines critical to the treatment and rehabilitation of personnel recovering from combat-related injuries.
He explained that the committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defence, the National Universities Commission, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Defence Academy and other strategic institutions to facilitate seamless accreditation, admissions and programme approvals.
According to him, the committee will develop the academic curriculum, integrate military and academic training, coordinate accreditation processes, facilitate the appointment of academic personnel and collaborate with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure the admission of the pioneer set of military medical cadets in the 2026 academic session.
Alausa further disclosed that he had already engaged the Registrar of JAMB to facilitate the inclusion of the college on the admissions portal and directed the National Universities Commission to expedite resource verification and accreditation processes to meet the 2026 commencement target.
Providing an update on preparations, the Director-General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme and Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Brig.-Gen. Dr. Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the proposed institution is being modelled after the Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences in the United States.
He explained that the model integrates academic learning with military training from admission through graduation, equipping medical cadets with specialised competencies in battlefield medicine, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and other military healthcare skills.
Solebo added that the college will be sited within the vicinity of the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Lagos, where existing infrastructure provides a solid foundation for immediate take-off.
He noted that the Armed Forces currently face a shortage of medical personnel, making the establishment of a dedicated military medical institution imperative to guarantee a sustainable pipeline of healthcare professionals.
The minister expressed appreciation to the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence for their support, reaffirming the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of the project.
He expressed confidence that with the Technical Working Group working diligently, the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences would admit its pioneer students during the 2026 academic session.
