The Federal Government (FG) has announced plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to meet the growing demand for practical training among healthcare students.
The initiative, being driven through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), is expected to provide modern practical training facilities for students studying medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the plan in Abuja while receiving the report of the TETFund Medical Simulation Committee.
Alausa said the expansion had become necessary as more Nigerians gain admission into healthcare-related programmes, placing increased pressure on existing facilities and training resources.
According to the minister, nursing enrolment has increased significantly, rising from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000.
He also disclosed that annual admission into medical schools has risen from about 5,000 students in May 2023 to almost 12,000 students currently.
Alausa said the Federal Government intends to further increase annual medical student enrolment to about 20,000 within the next three years.
He noted that admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes had also doubled, underscoring the need for stronger infrastructure to support the expanding healthcare workforce.
The proposed simulation centres are expected to bridge the gap between classroom instruction and real-world clinical practice by giving students opportunities to develop practical skills in controlled training environments before working directly with patients.
“This is a major step towards providing world-class training for our medical students, dental students, nursing students, pharmacy students and other allied healthcare professionals,” the minister said.
He commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Wale Suleiman, and other members for developing the report and advancing plans for the centres.
Alausa also acknowledged the contributions of key 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.
The minister said the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the administration’s efforts to expand access to quality education while strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
He assured that the Federal Government would continue to support the development of the TETFund Medical Simulation Centres, stressing that the facilities would help equip more Nigerian healthcare students with the practical skills required to meet the country’s future medical needs.
