Education Minister Tunji Alausa says simulation centres will be established across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to strengthen practical healthcare training

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish world-class medical simulation centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones as it seeks to raise annual medical school admissions to 20,000 within the next three years.

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Dr Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, disclosed the plan in Abuja on Sunday, August 30, 2026, while receiving the report of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Medical Simulation Committee.

The proposed medical simulation centres are expected to provide practical training for students of medicine, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy and other allied health professions as the government expands enrolment to address Nigeria’s healthcare workforce needs.

A statement issued by the Office of the Minister of Education and signed by Special Adviser on Media and Communications Ikharo Attah said the initiative formed part of efforts to strengthen practical education and support the healthcare workforce under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Alausa said the rapid expansion in health-related enrolment made additional training infrastructure increasingly necessary.

He disclosed that nursing enrolment had risen from about 38,000 students three years ago to more than 120,000 across nursing schools in Nigeria.

Medical school admissions have also increased substantially, according to the minister.

“Today, I’m happy to report that we’re admitting almost 12,000 students. 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.

The minister added that admissions into pharmacy and dental programmes had also increased, further underscoring the need for institutions to expand their capacity for hands-on training.

He said the proposed centres would allow students to develop practical skills in controlled environments before progressing to direct patient care.

“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,” he said.

The planned investment comes at a challenging moment for Nigeria’s healthcare system, which has experienced sustained migration of trained doctors, nurses and other professionals seeking improved remuneration, working conditions and career opportunities overseas.

The trend, popularly known as “Japa”, has raised concerns among healthcare professionals and policymakers about the country’s ability to retain enough skilled workers to serve its growing population.

Expanding the number of healthcare students could help increase the future supply of professionals, but the scale-up also creates a corresponding need for sufficient lecturers, clinical placements, equipment and training facilities.

The simulation centres are intended to address part of that challenge by providing students with access to realistic clinical training as enrolment continues to rise.

The initiative could also help institutions reduce pressure on clinical facilities, where large numbers of students often compete for opportunities to gain practical experience.

Alausa commended Dr Wale Suleiman, chairman of the Medical Simulation Committee, and other members for preparing the report and advancing the plans for the centres.

He said the project would be important in ensuring that increased admission numbers were matched by quality training rather than simply expanding enrolment without adequate infrastructure.

The government’s target of 20,000 annual medical school admissions would represent a substantial increase from the nearly 12,000 students currently admitted each year.

However, the expansion will need to be accompanied by sustained investment in teaching hospitals, laboratories, academic staffing and other components of medical education if the additional graduates are to receive comprehensive training.

There is also a broader question over whether increasing the supply of trained healthcare professionals alone will be enough to slow the migration of Nigerian health workers.

Better working conditions, competitive remuneration, functional hospitals and clearer career pathways remain important factors influencing whether professionals remain in Nigeria after completing their training.

For the government, however, the simulation-centre plan represents a significant step towards modernising practical healthcare education while expanding the pipeline of future professionals.

Alausa said the initiative reflected Tinubu’s commitment to improving education and developing the workforce required for Nigeria’s future.

“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.”

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If implemented as planned, the six-zone simulation network would give Nigeria a stronger foundation for training a larger generation of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and allied health professionals while the country continues to grapple with the competing demands of workforce expansion and retention.