Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Armed Forces Medical College is expected to admit its first batch of military medical cadets during the 2026 academic session, as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to tackle the severe shortage of healthcare professionals within Nigeria’s Armed Forces.
Minister of Education Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa announced the plan in Abuja while inaugurating a Technical Working Group charged with accelerating the establishment of the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
The proposed institution will train doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals specifically for military service, equipping them with the specialised skills required to manage combat injuries, rehabilitation and other operational health challenges.
According to Alausa, the college forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to expand medical education while addressing the Armed Forces’ critical manpower gap.
He said military personnel require healthcare professionals trained to operate effectively in conflict environments and other demanding operational settings.
The minister noted that the government has significantly expanded medical education nationwide, with annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry increasing from about 5,000 students before the current administration to 10,405, while the target is to reach 20,000 admissions within the next two years.
He added that enrolment into nursing programmes has also risen sharply from approximately 28,000 students annually to nearly 120,000 across the country.
Alausa emphasised that the new institution is not intended to compete with conventional universities but will focus on producing highly skilled professionals capable of meeting the unique healthcare needs of military personnel.
He directed the Technical Working Group to prioritise specialised programmes such as Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy, particularly for the rehabilitation of service members injured during military operations.
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