Health
FG expands capacity of training institutions to strengthen healthcare delivery
Deborah Tolu-Kolawole
The Federal Government has unveiled measures to expand medical training capacity across the country as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare delivery, improve the quality of health professionals, and position Nigeria as a hub for medical education and innovation in Africa.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, disclosed this in a statement released on Wednesday following the opening of the inaugural international conference of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
Alausa said the Tinubu administration recognises that sustainable healthcare development depends on deliberate investments in institutions responsible for training doctors, nurses, pharmacists, scientists, and other health professionals.
“The Federal Government recognises that sustainable healthcare development depends on deliberate investment in the institutions that train our doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals,” the statement quoted him as saying.
He noted that the government had embarked on a series of interventions aimed at expanding training opportunities in medical schools nationwide through the upgrading of infrastructure, procurement of modern equipment, and expansion of teaching facilities.
According to the minister, “these interventions are designed to expand training opportunities in our medical schools through the upgrade of infrastructure, procurement of modern equipment, and expansion of teaching facilities across the country.”
He added that the government would establish Medical Simulation and Technology Centres nationwide to provide students with modern simulation-based learning and practical clinical training that meets international standards.
“The establishment of Medical Simulation and Technology Centres will ensure that our students are exposed to modern simulation-based learning and practical clinical training that meets global standards,” he said.
Alausa said the centres would strengthen clinical competence, practical skills and readiness among medical graduates, enabling them to meet the evolving demands of healthcare delivery.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Precision in Practice: Integrating Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Clinical Insights for Patient-Centered Care,” the minister said advances in artificial intelligence, genomics, digital pathology and precision medicine were reshaping healthcare globally and should be reflected in Nigeria’s medical education system.
He said, “Advances in artificial intelligence, genomics, digital pathology and precision medicine are reshaping healthcare globally, and our medical education system must reflect these realities.”
He noted that modern healthcare increasingly relies on technology-driven and patient-centred approaches, stressing the need for Nigerian institutions to align with emerging global trends in medical training and research.
The minister described the work of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences in areas such as precision medicine, cancer genomics, artificial intelligence, digital pathology, clinical research and biobanking as strategic to Nigeria’s future in healthcare innovation and biomedical advancement.
He also announced the Federal Government’s approval for the establishment of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund, which is expected to provide sustained financing for research activities, innovation and the commercialisation of discoveries across universities, research institutes and industries.
According to him, “the National Research and Innovation Development Fund will provide sustained financing for research, innovation and the commercialisation of discoveries across our universities, research institutes and industries.”
He added that the initiative would help address longstanding fragmentation within Nigeria’s research ecosystem by promoting stronger collaboration among academia, government institutions and the private sector.
Alausa commended the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences for establishing a ₦1 billion endowment fund to support research and academic excellence, urging alumni, development partners, corporate organisations and philanthropists to contribute towards strengthening medical education and scientific research in the country.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, described the conference as a major milestone reflecting the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation and global competitiveness.
She said the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences was established to deepen biomedical research, diagnostic medicine, and healthcare innovation, adding that it had already achieved significant results despite its relatively short existence.
Ogunsola highlighted the hosting of the faculty’s inaugural international conference, the unveiling of its academic journal and the launch of the ₦1 billion endowment fund as evidence of its growing impact within Nigeria’s medical and scientific community.
She expressed confidence that the faculty would emerge as one of Africa’s leading centres for biomedical research and scientific excellence.
The conference attracted scholars, clinicians, researchers, policymakers and development partners from within and outside Nigeria to explore innovative approaches to diagnostics, therapeutics and patient-centred healthcare.
Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to sustaining investments that strengthen healthcare training, advance scientific discovery and position Nigeria as a leading centre for medical education, research and innovation on the African continent.
Nigeria has faced persistent shortages of healthcare professionals in recent years, driven partly by the migration of doctors, nurses and other health workers to countries offering better remuneration and working conditions.
The development has heightened calls from stakeholders for increased investment in medical education, teaching hospitals and research institutions to expand training capacity and improve the quality of healthcare services across the country.
Experts have also advocated greater support for research, innovation and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, genomics and precision medicine, arguing that they will play a crucial role in strengthening healthcare systems and improving patient outcomes in the years ahead.
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