The Federal Government has announced plans to establish medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six

geopolitical zones. The initiative aims to raise annual medical school admissions to 20,000 within the next three years.

Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa disclosed the plan while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee. The centres will provide high-quality practical training for medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and other allied healthcare students.

Alausa said the expansion supports efforts to grow Nigeria’s healthcare workforce under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that annual medical school admissions have already risen from about 5,000 when President Bola Tinubu took office to nearly 12,000 currently.

Nursing enrolment has also increased sharply, from around 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 across nursing schools. Admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes have likewise grown.

The move comes amid ongoing concerns about the migration of Nigerian-trained doctors, nurses and other health professionals seeking better opportunities abroad. The government hopes the new simulation centres will expand training capacity and improve the quality of practical education for the growing number of health professional students.