Nigeria Rebuilds Medical Education, Quadruples Nursing Intake
₦120bn Intervention Targets Medical Training Deficit
THE Federal Government has disclosed that it has spent over ₦120 billion to rehabilitate 18 medical schools across Nigeria as part of a broader effort to strengthen medical education and address critical workforce shortages in the health sector. The investment also includes a significant expansion of enrolment in nursing and other health-related disciplines.
The disclosure was made during the 56th convocation ceremony of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), where President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s address was delivered by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa. The event marked the culmination of a week-long celebration of academic achievements at the institution.
Focus on Medicine, Nursing and Clinical Training
According to the President, the intervention targets core health disciplines—medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and nursing—with a specific emphasis on nursing education. He said the government’s objective is to quadruple admissions into nursing schools nationwide to increase the supply of trained nurses and close persistent manpower gaps in hospitals and primary healthcare facilities.
Over the past two years, 18 medical schools across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones have benefited from the rehabilitation programme. The President added that the initiative would be extended to between six and 12 additional medical schools under the 2026 Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) spending guidelines.
The intervention also includes the construction of eight medical simulation laboratories across the country to improve hands-on clinical training. In addition, more than ₦27 billion has been earmarked for the construction of new hostels in beneficiary medical schools to improve student welfare and learning conditions.
Education as Cornerstone of National Renewal
President Tinubu reaffirmed education as a central pillar of his administration’s national renewal agenda, arguing that no nation can rise above the quality of its human capital. While acknowledging economic challenges such as inflation, unemployment and inequality, he maintained that sustained investment in education remains essential to long-term development.
He also highlighted the impact of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, which has received over 1.3 million applications since becoming operational. About 900,000 students are currently benefiting from the scheme, with cumulative disbursements exceeding ₦200 billion.
Beyond the health sector, the President announced that the 2026 TETFund cycle would allocate more than ₦100 billion for the rehabilitation of engineering and technology faculties in 12 universities, including federal universities of technology and conventional universities.
End to Strikes and Academic Stability
The President reiterated his administration’s commitment to ending recurring industrial actions in federal universities. He noted that Nigeria has experienced two uninterrupted academic sessions since the start of his tenure, attributing the stability to sustained dialogue and political will.
According to him, a newly signed agreement between the Ministry of Education and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) represents a turning point for tertiary education.
UNILAG Celebrates Academic Excellence
UNILAG graduated 16,506 students during the convocation ceremonies, including over 10,500 first-degree recipients and nearly 6,000 postgraduate students. The university also conferred honorary degrees, doctoral awards and emeritus professorships on distinguished scholars and public figures.
Vice-Chancellor Folashade Ogunshola described the convocation as a celebration of resilience and excellence, noting UNILAG’s strong research output and international standing. The university remains jointly ranked first in Nigeria in the 2026 Times Higher Education rankings and was named the Most International African Institution (West Africa) for 2025.
