Alausa inaugurates admission committee for armed forces medical college
By Uji A. Iliyasu, Abuja
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has inaugurated a Technical Working Group to fast-track the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences, with the Federal Government targeting the admission of its first set of military medical cadets in the 2026 academic session.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, Alausa described the proposed institution as a strategic investment in national security and healthcare, saying it would provide a sustainable pipeline of doctors, nurses and other specialised health professionals trained specifically for military service.
He said the initiative would end the Armed Forces’ long-standing dependence on civilian institutions for training medical personnel, stressing that members of the military deserve healthcare professionals equipped to meet the unique demands of military operations.
The minister said the project follows the Federal Government’s approval for the establishment of the college and signals the transition from policy approval to implementation.
Alausa noted that the initiative complements ongoing reforms aimed at expanding medical education across the country. He disclosed that annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased from about 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405, while the government’s target is to raise the figure to at least 20,000 within the next two years through the accreditation of more Colleges of Medicine.
He also said annual enrolment into nursing programmes has risen from about 28,000 to nearly 120,000 nationwide, attributing the achievement to sustained reforms and the maintenance of professional standards.
The minister directed the Technical Working Group to develop the academic curriculum, integrate military and academic training, coordinate accreditation processes and facilitate the appointment of key personnel to ensure the college begins academic activities in 2026.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Education was already working with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to include the institution on its admissions portal, while the National Universities Commission had been directed to fast-track resource verification and accreditation.
Chairman of the Technical Working Group and Director-General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the college would be modelled after the Uniformed Services University in the United States and located at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna.
He revealed that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 per cent deficit in medical personnel, making the establishment of the college critical to strengthening military healthcare services.