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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen healthcare services within the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, inaugurating a Technical Working Group (TWG) to fast-track the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences ahead of the 2026 academic session.
Alausa, who performed the inauguration in Abuja, on Thursday, said the proposed institution would provide a sustainable pipeline of doctors, nurses and other specialised healthcare professionals trained specifically to meet the operational needs of the military.
He said the move would end the Armed Forces’ long-standing dependence on civilian universities for the training of medical personnel and enhance the country’s security architecture through a dedicated military medical workforce.
The minister described the initiative as a strategic investment in national security and human capital development, stressing that the establishment of the college marks the transition from policy approval to implementation following the Federal Government’s approval of the project.
“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,” Alausa said.
He explained that the initiative complements the Federal Government’s broader expansion of medical education across the country, disclosing that annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased from about 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405 students, while the government is targeting at least 20,000 admissions within the next two years through the accreditation of more colleges of medicine.
The minister further disclosed that annual enrolment into nursing programmes 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 but stressed that the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces require a purpose-built institution dedicated to military medicine.
Alausa urged the TWG to prioritise specialised programmes such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and other disciplines critical to the treatment and rehabilitation of personnel recovering from combat-related injuries.
“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.
He noted that the committee comprises representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, National Universities Commission (NUC), Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and other strategic institutions.
The minister said the Technical Working Group would develop the academic curriculum, integrate military and academic training, coordinate accreditation, facilitate the appointment of key academic personnel and work with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure the successful admission of the pioneer military medical cadets during the 2026 academic session.
He further revealed that he had engaged the JAMB Registrar to facilitate the inclusion of the proposed college on the admissions portal, while directing the NUC to fast-track resource verification and accreditation processes.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme and Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the institution is being modelled after the Uniformed Services University in the United States.
He explained that medical cadets would undergo integrated academic and military training from admission through graduation, acquiring specialised competencies in battlefield medicine, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and other military medical skills.
Solebo disclosed that the college would be located at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, where existing infrastructure would enable it to commence operations without delay.
He added that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 per cent deficit in medical personnel, underscoring the urgent need for a dedicated institution to strengthen military healthcare and ensure a sustainable supply of medical professionals.
Alausa expressed appreciation to the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence for supporting the initiative and expressed optimism that the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences would admit its pioneer military medical cadets during the 2026 academic session.
