The Federal Government has approved a ₦110 billion intervention to enhance medical education and training in 18 universities across the country.
The initiative, implemented through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), aims to significantly improve facilities for programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, with the goal of expanding enrolment and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
Each of the selected universities is set to receive around ₦4 billion, with ₦750 million dedicated specifically to the construction of student hostels. The funding will be used to upgrade medical infrastructure, establish simulation laboratories, and provide modern educational environments to support practical learning. This development marks the beginning of a five-year plan to invest a total of ₦1.5 trillion in medical education nationwide.
The benefiting universities include the University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Benin, Ahmadu Bello University, University of Medical Sciences in Ondo, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Bayelsa State University, Imo State University, Benue State University, Umar Musa Yar’Adua University, University of Nigeria, University of Calabar, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Jos, University of Ilorin, University of Maiduguri, Uthman Danfodio University, and Gombe State University.
The intervention is designed to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on foreign training by improving the capacity of local institutions to produce well-trained healthcare professionals. It also aims to address the shortage of doctors and allied health workers across the country by increasing the number of students admitted into medical programmes.
As part of the broader plan, eight simulation laboratories will be built across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to support advanced medical training. The government also plans to rehabilitate lecture theatres, laboratories, and other key facilities to ensure that medical schools meet global standards.
This effort reflects a renewed commitment to transforming the healthcare sector by investing directly in the education of future medical professionals within Nigeria.
