Federal Government Invests Over N340bn in Medical Education to Bolster Healthcare Workforce

The Federal Government has announced a combined investment of over N340 billion in medical education and infrastructure to address the chronic shortage of healthcare professionals across Nigeria.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed these figures on Saturday during the maiden convocation ceremony of Miva Open University in Lagos. According to the minister, the government has already injected N220 billion into the sector over the past two years, with an additional N121 billion earmarked for 2026 to further expand training facilities nationwide.

Alausa noted that the previous funding has been instrumental in upgrading infrastructure, rehabilitating medical schools and student hostels, and constructing eight advanced medical simulation laboratories across the six geopolitical zones. Specifically, N72 billion was distributed among 18 medical schools for infrastructure development, with each institution receiving an additional N1.5 billion for hostel improvements.

Looking ahead to the 2026 fiscal year, the minister outlined plans to support six additional medical schools. The planned spending includes N24 billion for facility expansion, N10 billion for student accommodation, and N56 billion for specialized equipment.

Beyond medical training, the minister highlighted broader reforms in the tertiary education sector. These include a N250 billion intervention project aimed at providing student housing across various institutions, utilizing both direct construction and public-private partnerships. He also noted that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has successfully disbursed N300 billion to support over 1.7 million students.

As part of the administration’s push for economic empowerment, Alausa introduced the Student Venture Capital Grant Initiative. The program is designed to provide qualifying students with equity-free grants of up to N50 million to foster entrepreneurship and business innovation.

Addressing the graduates, the minister encouraged them to take an active role in national development, urging them to embrace innovation and lead the charge in transforming the country’s future.