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.

The Minister, however, emphasised that the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces require a purpose built institution with programmes tailored to military realities.

He urged the Technical Working Group to prioritise disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and other specialised programmes that support the treatment and rehabilitation of personnel recovering from combat related injuries.

“This institution is not being established to compete with conventional universities. It is being established to make the Armed Forces self sufficient in producing the healthcare professionals they require. Every programme should answer one simple question. Does the Armed Forces need it? If the answer is yes, then it should be prioritised,” he said.

The Minister said the Technical Working Group brings together key decision makers from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defence, the National Universities Commission, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, the Nigerian Defence Academy and other strategic institutions to ensure seamless accreditation, admissions and programme approvals.

He added that the Committee will develop the academic curriculum, integrate academic and military training, coordinate accreditation, facilitate the appointment of key academic personnel and work with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to ensure the successful commencement of academic activities during the 2026 academic session.

The Minister further disclosed that he has engaged the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to facilitate the inclusion of the College on the admissions portal and directed the National Universities Commission to fast track all resource verification and accreditation processes to ensure the admission of the first military medical cadets during the 2026 academic session.

Providing a progress update, the Director General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme and Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the proposed College is being developed using the successful model of the Uniformed Services University in the United States, where medical cadets undergo integrated academic and military training from admission through graduation, equipping them with specialised competencies in battlefield medicine, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and other military medical skills.

He added that the College will be located at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, where existing infrastructure provides a solid foundation for immediate take off.

He noted that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 percent deficit in medical personnel, underscoring the urgent need for a dedicated institution to strengthen military healthcare and guarantee a sustainable supply of medical professionals for the Armed Forces.

The Minister expressed appreciation to the Honourable Minister of Defence and the Honourable Minister of State for Defence for their steadfast support for the initiative and reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Education’s commitment to its successful implementation.

He expressed confidence that, with the Technical Working Group working at speed, the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences would admit its pioneer military medical cadets during the 2026 academic session.