The Federal Government is set to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to strengthen practical training for the growing number of students entering the healthcare professions.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, announced the plan while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee.
Alausa said the proposed centres would provide high quality practical training for students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions, as the country expands admission into healthcare related programmes.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah, the minister said the initiative was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to expand Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and improve the quality of professional training.
“I would like to thank the members of the committee that has 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 to provide world class training for our medical students, dental students, nursing students, pharmacy students and other allied healthcare professionals,” Alausa said.
The minister said the need for expanded practical training had become more urgent due to a sharp increase in enrolment and admission into healthcare programmes.
He disclosed that nursing enrolment, which stood at about 38,000 students three years ago, had risen to more than 120,000 students across nursing schools in the country.
Similarly, annual admission into medical schools has increased from about 5,000 students when the Tinubu administration assumed office to almost 12,000 students, according to the minister.
Alausa said the government was targeting a further increase in annual medical school enrolment to about 20,000 students within the next three years.
“Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students primarily now. Our goal in the next three years will increase the number of annual medical student enrollment in medical school to about 20,000,” he stated.
He added that admissions into pharmacy and dental schools had also doubled, further increasing the number of healthcare professionals being trained to meet the country’s workforce needs.
The minister commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr. Wale Suleiman, and other members for their work in preparing the report and advancing plans for the establishment of the proposed centres.
He also acknowledged the contributions of key professional and academic stakeholders, including representatives of the Medical and Dental Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the University of Abuja Medical School.
Alausa described the initiative as another demonstration of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving the quality of education in Nigeria.
“This person, President Bola, is committed to providing the best and the highest quality of education to every child in this country,” he said.
“We are seeing it, we are seeing the result now. It’s another manifestation of President Bola’s fervent and benevolent belief in the progress and benefit of the future of Nigeria,” he added.
The minister assured that the administration would continue to support the development of the proposed TETFund Medical Simulation Centres and the expansion of healthcare training, with the aim of giving more Nigerian students access to quality professional education while building a stronger healthcare workforce for the future.
