Nigeria to Establish Armed Forces College of Medicine

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine, as disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Folasad Boriowo, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education. This initiative is designed to address the manpower shortage within the armed forces and support broader efforts to tackle Nigeria's growing deficit in the medical profession.

Minister of Education Tunji Alausa noted that the proposed college aligns with the federal government's reform agenda to strengthen science and technology in medical education. During a high-level meeting with Christoph Musa, alongside Minister of State for Education Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad and Minister of State for Defence Dr. Bello Matawalle, it was highlighted that Nigeria faces a significant shortage of medical professionals, with a deficit of 340,000 doctors.

The proposal aims to increase annual medical school admissions from nearly 10,000 to 19,000 by 2026. The college is expected to play a critical role in achieving this expansion, ensuring regulatory compliance and quality assurance.