The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to cope with the rapid expansion in admissions into medical and other healthcare-related programmes.
The initiative, which is implemented by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, is expected to provide students in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health disciplines with enhanced opportunities for practical and simulation-based training.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the plans while receiving the report of the TETFund Medical Simulation Committee, noting that the expansion of admissions had made investment in practical training facilities increasingly urgent.
Alausa revealed that nursing enrolment had surged from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 across nursing schools nationwide.
He added that annual admissions into medical schools had also increased from approximately 5,000 students when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office to nearly 12,000 currently.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government intends to raise annual medical school admissions to about 20,000 within the next three years, further increasing the demand for modern training infrastructure.
The Minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Ikharo Attah, in a statement, said the intervention underscores the administration’s determination to match the rapid expansion of healthcare education with the facilities and training infrastructure required to produce competent professionals.
Alausa said admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes had similarly doubled, describing the development as evidence of the administration’s efforts to widen access to healthcare education.
“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 explained that the proposed simulation centres would help bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world clinical practice by giving students access to modern facilities for hands-on learning before they enter clinical environments.
The Minister expressed appreciation to the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr. Wale Suleiman, and members of the committee for their work in developing the proposal.
He also acknowledged the contributions of representatives of major professional and academic bodies, including the Medical and Dental Council, Nursing and Midwifery Council, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the University of Abuja Medical School.
Alausa said the initiative was consistent with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his commitment to expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce while improving the quality of education available to Nigerian students.
“This person, President Bola, is committed to providing the best and the highest quality of education to every child in this country,” he said.
The Minister maintained that the expansion of healthcare training must be accompanied by investments in infrastructure, equipment and practical learning to ensure that increased admissions translate into a stronger and more competent healthcare workforce.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to advance the establishment of the TETFund Medical Simulation Centres across the six geopolitical zones as part of broader efforts to strengthen professional education and address Nigeria’s long-term healthcare workforce needs.
This angle makes the 20,000 annual medical admissions target and explosive growth in healthcare enrolment the news hook, while presenting the simulation centres as the government’s response to the challenge.
