By Jumoke Olaitan
The Federal Government has committed more than N217 billion within two years to strengthen medical education and healthcare training across the country.
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this at the inaugural International Conference of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences (FBCS), College of Medicine, University of Lagos.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser on Media and Communications to the minister, Mr Ikharo Attah.
Attah quoted the minister to have said that the investment was part of the President Bola Tinubu administration’s efforts to build a stronger healthcare system through quality education, research, innovation and human capital development.
Alausa said sustainable healthcare development depended on deliberate investment in institutions responsible for training doctors, nurses, pharmacists, scientists and other health professionals.
He 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 the federal government invested more than N97 billion in medical education interventions in 2025 through Special High Impact Projects aimed at expanding training capacity.
He added that an additional N120.5 billion was approved in 2026 to support medical colleges through infrastructure upgrades, procurement of equipment, expansion of teaching facilities and improvement of learning environments.
According to him, the government will also establish Medical Simulation and Technology Centres across the country to provide students with modern simulation-based learning and strengthen practical competence and clinical readiness.
The minister described the work of the Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences in precision medicine, cancer genomics, artificial intelligence, digital pathology, clinical research and biobanking as critical to Nigeria’s future healthcare development.
He commended the faculty for establishing a N1 billion Endowment Fund and called on alumni, development partners, corporate organisations and philanthropists to support initiatives that would promote excellence in medical education and research.
Alausa also highlighted the federal government’s approval of the National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), which he said would provide sustainable financing for research, innovation and commercialisation of discoveries.
According to him, the fund will promote collaboration among universities, research institutes, government agencies and the private sector.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, said the conference was a major milestone that reflected the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation and global competitiveness.
Ogunsola said the faculty was established to advance biomedical research, diagnostic medicine and healthcare innovation.
She noted that the faculty had recorded significant achievements within a short period, including hosting its inaugural international conference, unveiling its academic journal and launching a N1 billion Endowment Fund.
The vice-chancellor 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 discuss innovative approaches to diagnostics, therapeutics and patient-centred healthcare.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi