The Federal Government has increased annual admissions into nursing schools from about 20,000 to 50,000 students as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s shortage of healthcare professionals and strengthen the country’s health workforce.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the expansion forms part of a broader initiative to increase admissions into health-related programmes, including medicine, Nursing, pharmacy and dentistry.
According to him, the policy is expected to produce thousands of additional healthcare professionals over the next few years, helping to bridge workforce gaps across hospitals and healthcare facilities nationwide.
Alausa said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy through investments in education and human capital development.
He also reiterated that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund was designed to remain financially sustainable beyond the current administration, describing sustainability as a key principle behind the programme.
The minister further stated that the government had restored industrial harmony in tertiary institutions through continuous dialogue with academic and non-academic unions, resulting in improved stability across the higher education sector.
Nigeria has continued to experience shortages of nurses, doctors and other healthcare professionals due to limited training capacity and the migration of skilled workers abroad in search of better opportunities.
The Federal Government says expanding admissions into nursing and other health-related programmes, alongside investments in Technical and Vocational Education and Training, will help meet domestic healthcare needs while strengthening Nigeria’s human capital base.
