The Federal Government has announced plans to establish six world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare training and significantly increase the number of medical professionals graduating from the country’s institutions.
The initiative was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, during the presentation of the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee.
According to the minister, the proposed centres will provide practical training opportunities for students in medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions.
He explained that the facilities would replicate real-life clinical environments, enabling students to acquire hands-on experience before entering professional practice.
“I would like to thank the members of the committee that have worked so hard and assiduously to get us to this point in which we are now talking about building several simulation centres across the country,” Alausa said.
The minister disclosed that the project forms part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to address shortages within the healthcare workforce and improve the quality of medical education.
He noted that enrolment into health-related programmes has increased significantly in recent years. Nursing student enrolment, for instance, has reportedly risen from about 38,000 to more than 120,000 within three years.
Similarly, annual admissions into medical schools have increased from approximately 5,000 students to nearly 12,000.
Alausa said the government’s target is to raise annual medical school admissions to about 20,000 students within the next three years.
The expansion comes against the backdrop of increasing migration of Nigerian healthcare professionals to foreign countries in search of better opportunities, a trend that has placed additional pressure on the domestic healthcare system.
Officials believe the new simulation centres will help institutions accommodate larger student populations while maintaining high standards of training.
The minister described the initiative as evidence of the government’s commitment to investing in education and developing the skilled workforce required to meet future healthcare demands.
Stakeholders have welcomed the proposal, noting that improved training infrastructure could help bridge existing gaps in medical education and strengthen healthcare delivery across the country.
