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The federal government said on Wednesday that it has committed over N217 billion to strengthen medical education and healthcare workforce development across Nigeria as part of efforts to improve healthcare delivery and position the country as a hub for medical innovation in Africa.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the opening of the inaugural International Conference of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences (FBCS), College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
A media aide to the minister, Ikharo Attah, indicated in a statement that the investment reflected the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to building a resilient healthcare system through strategic investments in institutions responsible for training doctors, nurses, pharmacists, scientists and other healthcare professionals.
He disclosed that the government had invested over N97 billion in medical education interventions in 2025 through Special High Impact Projects aimed at expanding training capacity in medical schools nationwide.
He added that an additional N120.5 billion was approved in 2026 to support medical colleges through infrastructure upgrades, procurement of equipment, expansion of teaching facilities and improvement of learning environments.
The minister noted that advancements in artificial intelligence, genomics, digital pathology and precision medicine were reshaping healthcare globally, stressing the need for Nigeria’s medical education system to align with these emerging trends.
Speaking on the conference theme, “Precision in Practice: Integrating Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Clinical Insights for Patient-Centred Care”, the minister said the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that healthcare professionals were equipped with the knowledge and skills required to meet modern healthcare challenges.
He also announced plans to establish Medical Simulation and Technology Centres across the country to provide students with simulation-based learning that meets international standards and enhances clinical competence and readiness.
Alausa described the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences’ work in areas such as precision medicine, cancer genomics, artificial intelligence, digital pathology, clinical research and biobanking as critical to Nigeria’s future healthcare advancement.
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The minister further commended the faculty for launching a N1 billion Endowment Fund and urged alumni, corporate organisations, development partners and philanthropists to support initiatives that promote excellence in medical education and research.
He also highlighted the federal government’s approval of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which is designed to provide sustainable financing for research, innovation and the commercialisation of discoveries across universities, research institutes and industries.
“The fund will help address long-standing challenges in Nigeria’s research ecosystem by promoting stronger collaboration among academia, government institutions and the private sector,” he said.
Alausa further reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to sustaining investments that strengthen healthcare training, advance scientific discoveries and enhance Nigeria’s global competitiveness in medical education and healthcare innovation.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, described the conference as a significant milestone in the institution’s pursuit of academic excellence, innovation and global competitiveness.
She noted that the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences was established to advance biomedical research, diagnostic medicine and healthcare innovation, adding that it had already recorded notable achievements, including hosting its inaugural international conference, unveiling its academic journal and launching the N1 billion Endowment Fund.
Ogunsola expressed confidence that the faculty would emerge as one of Africa’s leading centres for biomedical research and scientific excellence.
The conference attracted scholars, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and development partners from within and outside Nigeria to explore innovative approaches to diagnostics, therapeutics and patient-centred healthcare.
