The Federal Government is targeting annual admission of about 20,000 students into Nigerian medical schools within the next three years as part of efforts to expand the country’s healthcare workforce.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa disclosed the target while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee.
He said the government also planned to establish world class medical simulation centers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
The facilities are expected to provide practical training for medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health students as enrollment expands.
Alausa said annual medical school admission had increased from about 5,000 students when the Tinubu administration came into office to almost 12,000 currently.
The government’s next target is to raise the figure to approximately 20,000 a year.
The minister said similar growth was occurring in other health professions.
Admissions into pharmacy and dental schools had doubled, while nursing enrollment had risen from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000.
The sharp increase in student numbers has increased pressure on teaching infrastructure, clinical placement capacity and practical training facilities.
Alausa said the planned simulation centers were intended to help maintain quality while expanding access.
Medical simulation allows students to practice clinical procedures and emergency responses in controlled environments before treating patients directly.
The minister thanked the TETFund committee led by Wale Suleiman and acknowledged contributions from professional regulators and academic institutions.
He said the initiative aligned with the administration’s wider objective of expanding Nigeria’s health workforce at a time when the country continues to lose professionals through migration.
