The Federal Government plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as part of efforts to increase annual medical school admissions to 20,000 within the next three years.
The initiative is aimed at expanding Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and improving practical training for medical and other health professional students, amid concerns over the migration of trained healthcare workers.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed the plan on Sunday, August 30, 2026, while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Committee.
The announcement was contained in a statement issued by the Office of the Minister of Education and signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
Alausa said the proposed centres would support practical training for students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions.
He said the expansion of training infrastructure had become necessary following a sharp increase in enrolment in health-related programmes.
According to the minister, nursing enrolment has risen from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 across nursing schools nationwide.
Annual admission into medical schools has also increased from about 5,000 students when President Bola Tinubu assumed office to almost 12,000 currently.
“Our goal in the next three years will be to increase the number of annual medical student enrolment in medical schools to about 20,000,” Alausa said.
He added that admissions into pharmacy and dental schools had also doubled.
The simulation centres are expected to help bridge the gap between classroom learning and clinical practice by giving students access to controlled environments where they can develop practical and critical-care skills before working with patients.
Alausa said the initiative was aligned with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda and would contribute to developing the healthcare workforce needed to meet Nigeria’s future needs.
He commended the Chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, Dr Wale Suleiman, and other members for preparing the report and advancing the plans.
The minister also acknowledged the roles of professional and regulatory bodies, including the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and Pharmacy Council of Nigeria.
