WorldStage– The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has taken a decisive step towards transforming healthcare delivery within Nigeria’s Armed Forces with the inauguration of a Technical Working Group to fast track the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The Minister said the proposed institution will provide the military with a sustainable pipeline of doctors, nurses and other specialised healthcare professionals trained specifically to meet the operational demands of military service, ending the Armed Forces’ long standing dependence on civilian institutions for the training of its medical personnel.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister described the initiative as a strategic investment in national security and human capital development, stressing that those who risk their lives daily to defend the nation deserve a healthcare workforce designed around their unique needs.
He explained that the inauguration of the Technical Working Group follows the Federal Government’s approval for the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences and marks the transition from policy approval to implementation.
“We cannot continue to leave the brave men and women who defend our nation without a sustainable system for training the healthcare professionals they require. Neither can we continue to expect the Armed Forces to compete with the rest of the country for the limited number of doctors graduating from our universities,” the Minister said.
The Minister explained that the initiative complements the Federal Government’s ongoing expansion of medical education.
He disclosed that annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased from about 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405 students, while the target is to raise admissions to at least 20,000 within the next two years through the accreditation of more Colleges of Medicine.
He also highlighted remarkable progress in nursing education, revealing that annual enrolment has risen from about 28,000 students to nearly 120,000 nationwide, surpassing the administration’s target. He commended the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for maintaining high standards that have earned Nigerian nurses global recognition.
