Providing further breakdown, Alausa disclosed that N72bn was allocated to 18 medical schools across the country, with each institution receiving N4bn specifically for infrastructure development
KaNo—
The Federal Government has disclosed that it invested N220bn in medical education and training over the past two years as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare workforce and improve the quality of medical training nationwide.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made this known on Saturday during the maiden convocation ceremony of Miva Open University held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and the Creative Arts in Lagos.
He also announced plans to commit an additional N121bn in 2026 to further expand medical education infrastructure across the country.
According to the minister, the investment forms a key component of the ongoing education sector reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, which are aimed at addressing the persistent shortage of healthcare professionals and enhancing the capacity of medical institutions.
“For medical school education alone, we spent N220bn on medical education and training just within the last two years,” Alausa said.
He explained that the funds were deployed towards upgrading infrastructure in medical schools, constructing modern medical simulation laboratories, and rehabilitating student hostels and other critical facilities.
“This investment was directed to include areas of infrastructure upgrade, building medical simulation labs, and rehabilitating medical schools and hostels.This is one of the largest targeted investments in medical education in the history of Nigeria,” he added.
Providing further breakdown, Alausa disclosed that N72bn was allocated to 18 medical schools across the country, with each institution receiving N4bn specifically for infrastructure development.
In addition, each of the schools was provided with N1.5bn for hostel accommodation to improve student welfare.
He emphasised that the government would sustain the momentum, noting that the proposed N121bn budget for 2026 would cover the development of six additional medical schools, provision of N10bn for hostel projects, N24bn for expansion of existing institutions, and N56bn for equipping 21 new medical schools nationwide.
“Our duty here is clear: to train more doctors, pharmacists, dentists and nurses, and ultimately strengthen our healthcare system through education,” Alausa said.
Beyond medical education, the minister reiterated the Federal Government’s broader commitment to improving conditions across tertiary institutions. He disclosed plans for a N250bn intervention targeted at addressing the acute shortage of student accommodation nationwide.
Under the initiative, 90 institutions are expected to receive N2bn each for the construction of 500-bed hostels, while others would access up to N4bn through public-private partnership arrangements to build between 1,200 and 1,500 bed spaces.
“For the first time in decades in the history of our country, we’re directly addressing the severe shortage of student accommodation in tertiary institutions,” he stated.
Alausa also highlighted the impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, noting that approximately N300bn had been disbursed within two years, enabling more than 1.7 million students to access higher education.
In addition, he announced the introduction of a Student Venture Capital Grant Initiative, designed to promote innovation and entrepreneurship among students. Under the scheme, beneficiaries can access up to N50m in equity-free grants to support business development and incubation.
Addressing graduating students at the ceremony, the minister urged them to embrace innovation and take an active role in shaping the country’s future.
“Do not wait for the future to approach you. Create it. Do not wait for opportunities. Build them. Do not wait for change. Be the agents of change,” he advised.
Meanwhile, chief medical directors of federal tertiary health institutions in Lagos have commended the Federal Government for ongoing reforms and investments aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery, infrastructure, manpower development, research, and patient welfare.
The commendation was made during a joint press conference held as part of activities marking Democracy Day 2026.
The institutions represented included the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Epe, Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba, and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi.
Speaking at the event, the Chief Medical Director of LUTH, Prof Wasiu Adeyemo, noted that despite being established at different times, federal tertiary hospitals in Lagos have continued to collaborate effectively in healthcare delivery, training, and research.
Addressing concerns over the migration of healthcare professionals, Adeyemo stated that recent salary adjustments implemented by the Federal Government had improved staff welfare and strengthened retention efforts within the sector.
He also highlighted key infrastructure developments at LUTH, including the construction of a new multi-million-dollar outpatient complex and the approval of approximately $3.8m for a two-megawatt solar power project aimed at addressing persistent energy challenges.
According to him, support from the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals facilitated the installation of 11 elevators and about 300 solar-powered streetlights within the hospital premises.
He added that ongoing projects at the institution include the renovation of specialist wards, expansion of dermatology services, and the completion of the multi-storey outpatient complex.
On manpower development, he said admissions into the hospital’s training schools had been expanded in line with government directives aimed at increasing the number of healthcare professionals in the country.
He also stressed the growing importance of public-private partnerships in sustaining specialised healthcare services, particularly in areas such as cancer treatment, renal care, and laboratory medicine.
Similarly, the Medical Director of FMC Epe, Dr Adeleke Kaka, said the facility, which commenced operations in April 2025, was established to improve access to tertiary healthcare services for residents of Epe and neighbouring communities.
He noted that the hospital had recorded significant progress within its first year, including the expansion of specialist services and enhancement of diagnostic capabilities.
Stakeholders say the combined investments in medical education and healthcare infrastructure signal a renewed commitment by the Federal Government to reposition Nigeria’s health sector and address longstanding challenges related to manpower shortages, inadequate facilities, and access to quality care.
