The Federal Government has taken a major step toward establishing the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences, inaugurating a Technical Working Group tasked with ensuring the institution begins admitting students in the 2026 academic session.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Abuja on Friday, Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa described the proposed college as a strategic investment that will strengthen healthcare services within the Nigerian Armed Forces by producing medical professionals specifically trained for military operations.
New College Aims to Close Military Healthcare Gap
According to the minister, the establishment of the institution is intended to address the longstanding shortage of healthcare personnel across the military.
He explained that, for many years, the Armed Forces have depended largely on graduates from civilian universities to fill medical positions.
While acknowledging their contributions, Alausa said the military now requires its own specialised training system capable of producing professionals equipped for operational and combat environments.
The institution will train doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other allied health professionals with expertise tailored to the unique demands of military service.
Focus on Battlefield Medicine and Emergency Care
Alausa stressed that healthcare professionals serving in the Armed Forces must possess knowledge that goes beyond conventional medical education.
He said the college will prepare students to manage battlefield injuries, emergency response situations, rehabilitation programmes and peacekeeping medical operations, ensuring they are ready to support troops both within Nigeria and on international assignments.
The minister noted that providing a steady supply of highly trained medical personnel is essential to safeguarding the welfare of military personnel who protect the country.
Government Expands Medical Education Nationwide
The minister said the initiative complements broader reforms aimed at increasing Nigeria’s healthcare workforce.
He disclosed that annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have risen from approximately 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405, with a target of increasing that figure to at least 20,000 within the next two years.
He also revealed that enrolment into nursing programmes has grown significantly, rising from about 28,000 to nearly 120,000 students nationwide through policy reforms, infrastructure investments and expanded institutional capacity.
Alausa praised the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for maintaining professional standards despite the sharp increase in student numbers, noting that Nigerian nurses continue to earn international recognition for their competence and professionalism.
Committee Assigned Key Responsibilities
The newly inaugurated Technical Working Group includes representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Defence, the National Universities Commission (NUC) and several healthcare regulatory bodies.
Its responsibilities include developing academic curricula, securing accreditation, recruiting staff, integrating military and medical education and ensuring the college is fully prepared to commence academic activities in 2026.
The minister also disclosed that discussions have already been held with the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to ensure the institution is listed on the admissions portal before its official launch.
In addition, the NUC has been directed to accelerate verification and accreditation procedures to prevent unnecessary delays.
Specialised Courses to Meet Armed Forces Needs
Alausa instructed the committee to ensure every programme offered by the institution directly addresses the operational healthcare needs of the military.
He specifically called for the inclusion of specialised disciplines such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and rehabilitation sciences to improve treatment and long-term recovery for personnel injured during military operations.
According to him, the college should focus on producing graduates with skills tailored to defence healthcare rather than replicating programmes already available in conventional universities.
College to Be Based in Kaduna
Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Idris Solebo, said the proposed institution draws inspiration from the Uniformed Services University in the United States.
He explained that students will receive integrated military and medical education from admission through graduation, including training in Tactical Combat Casualty Care, battlefield medicine and other specialised operational healthcare fields.
Solebo announced that the college will operate from the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna, allowing academic and clinical activities to commence using existing facilities.
Military Faces Critical Personnel Shortage
Highlighting the urgency of the project, Solebo revealed that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 percent shortage of medical personnel.
He expressed confidence that the new institution would create a sustainable pipeline of military doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals, ultimately improving operational readiness, emergency medical response and the overall quality of healthcare available to members of the Armed Forces.
The Education Minister concluded by thanking the Ministers of Defence for their support and reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s military through continued investment in education, healthcare and human capital development.
