By Felix Khanoba
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to expand healthcare training and strengthen the country’s medical workforce.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee.
The proposed centres are expected to enhance practical training for students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions.
A statement issued on Sunday by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, said the initiative was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on healthcare workforce development.
Alausa said the rapid growth in admission into health-related programmes had made improved practical training facilities increasingly necessary.
“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.
According to him, enrolment in nursing programmes has surged from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 across nursing schools nationwide.
He also disclosed that annual admission into medical schools had increased from approximately 5,000 students when the Tinubu administration came into office to nearly 12,000.
The minister said the Federal Government was targeting a further increase in medical school admissions to about 20,000 students annually within the next three years.
“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.
Alausa added that admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes had also doubled, indicating a broader expansion in the number of healthcare professionals being trained in the country.
He commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr. Wale Suleiman, and other members for their efforts in producing the report and advancing the establishment of the proposed simulation centres.
The minister also acknowledged the contributions of professional and academic stakeholders, including the Registrar of the Medical Emergencies Council, Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council, 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.
Alausa described the planned centres as part of the Tinubu administration’s broader efforts to improve the quality of education and professional training in Nigeria.
“This person, President Bola, is committed to providing the best and the highest quality of education to every child in this country,” he said.
“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.
The minister assured that the administration would continue to support the development of the TETFund Medical Simulation Centres and the expansion of healthcare training nationwide.
He said the ultimate objective was to widen access to quality professional education while producing a stronger and better-equipped healthcare workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s future needs.
