The Federal Government has announced plans to establish a specialised medical institution dedicated to training healthcare professionals for the Nigerian Armed Forces, with the pioneer set of military medical cadets expected to begin studies during the 2026 academic session.
The initiative was unveiled on Friday in Abuja by the Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, during the inauguration of a Technical Working Group tasked with accelerating the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences. The development was disclosed in a statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
According to the government, the proposed institution is designed to provide the military with a dedicated pipeline of doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals, reducing its dependence on civilian universities for medical personnel.
Alausa described the project as a strategic investment aimed at strengthening both national security and healthcare capacity, stressing that the government was moving from policy approval to implementation.
He noted that the Armed Forces require healthcare professionals specifically trained to meet the unique demands of military operations rather than competing with civilian institutions for a limited pool of medical graduates.
The minister said the college would focus on producing personnel capable of supporting soldiers in combat environments as well as rehabilitation and emergency medical care.
He added that the project complements the Federal Government’s broader efforts to expand medical education nationwide. According to him, annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have risen from about 5,000 before the current administration to 10,405, while the target is to increase the figure to at least 20,000 within the next two years through the accreditation of more medical colleges.
He also disclosed that nursing admissions have surged from approximately 28,000 to nearly 120,000 annually, surpassing the administration’s target, while commending the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for maintaining standards that have earned Nigerian nurses global recognition.
Alausa, however, maintained that the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces require a specialised institution, directing the Technical Working Group to prioritise programmes such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and other disciplines critical to the treatment and rehabilitation of personnel recovering from combat-related injuries.
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The committee, comprising representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, National Universities Commission, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Defence Academy and other key institutions, has been mandated to develop the academic curriculum, coordinate accreditation, integrate military and academic training, facilitate appointments and work with the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to ensure admissions begin in 2026.
The minister also disclosed that discussions had already been held with the JAMB Registrar to include the institution on the admissions portal, while directing the National Universities Commission to expedite resource verification and accreditation processes.
Chairman of the Technical Working Group and Director General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the institution would adopt the model of the Uniformed Services University in the United States.
He explained that cadets would receive integrated military and academic training throughout their studies, gaining expertise in battlefield medicine, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and other specialised military medical fields.
Solebo revealed that the college would be sited at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital in Kaduna to enable immediate commencement of academic activities. He added that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 per cent shortage of medical personnel, making the institution vital to ensuring a sustainable supply of healthcare professionals for the military.
The Federal Government expressed confidence that the Technical Working Group would complete its assignment in time for the admission of the first batch of military medical cadets in the 2026 academic session, describing the college as a key component of ongoing reforms to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare and defence systems.