Follow Us on Google
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.
Other News
“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.
