POLITICAL Economy

Armed Forces Medical College Set For 2026 Admissions

by admin on | 2026-08-02 15:49:59

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Armed Forces Medical College Set For 2026 Admissions

By Ahmad Sirajo Makama, Abuja

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Olatunji Alausa, has announced that the first Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences will commence admissions in 2026.

The Minister disclosed that he has engaged the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to facilitate the inclusion of the college on the admissions portal and directed the National Universities Commission (NUC) to fast-track resource verification and accreditation processes.

“To ensure the admission of the first military medical cadets during the 2026 academic session,” he said.

Alausa spoke in Abuja during the inauguration of a Technical Working Group set up to fast-track the establishment of the college.

He said the proposed institution would provide a sustainable pipeline of doctors, nurses and other specialised healthcare professionals trained to meet the operational demands of military service, ending the Armed Forces’ reliance on civilian institutions for training medical personnel.

The Minister described the initiative as a strategic investment in national security and human capital development, noting that military personnel deserve a healthcare system tailored to their unique needs.

He explained that the inauguration of the Technical Working Group follows Federal Government approval for the establishment of the college and signals the transition from policy to implementation.

“We cannot continue to leave the brave men and women who defend our nation without a sustainable system for training the healthcare professionals they require. Neither can we continue to expect the Armed Forces to compete with the rest of the country for the limited number of doctors graduating from our universities,” he said.

The Minister said the initiative complements ongoing expansion in medical education, noting that annual admissions into Medicine and Dentistry have increased from about 5,000 to 10,405 students, with a target of at least 20,000 within two years.

He added that nursing enrolment has risen from about 28,000 to nearly 120,000 nationwide, surpassing government targets, and commended the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for maintaining global standards.

Alausa, however, said the healthcare needs of the Armed Forces require a purpose-built institution with programmes tailored to military realities, urging the Technical Working Group to prioritise specialised disciplines such as Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy.

“This institution is not being established to compete with conventional universities. It is being established to make the Armed Forces self-sufficient in producing the healthcare professionals they require. Every programme should answer one simple question. Does the Armed Forces need it? If the answer is yes, then it should be prioritised,” he said.

He noted that the Technical Working Group comprises representatives from the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, NUC, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Nigerian Defence Academy and other institutions to ensure seamless accreditation and programme development.

According to him, the committee will develop academic curricula, integrate academic and military training, coordinate accreditation, facilitate recruitment of academic personnel and work with JAMB to ensure the commencement of academic activities in 2026.

The Minister expressed appreciation to the Minister of Defence and the Minister of State for Defence for their support and reaffirmed commitment to successful implementation of the project.

He expressed confidence that the college would admit its pioneer military medical cadets in the 2026 academic session.

Providing an update, the Director General, Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme and Chairman of the Technical Working Group, Major General Idris Babatunde Solebo, said the college is being developed using the model of the Uniformed Services University in the United States.

He explained that cadets would undergo integrated academic and military training from admission to graduation, with competencies in battlefield medicine, Tactical Combat Casualty Care and related fields.

Solebo added that the college will be located at the Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Kaduna, leveraging existing infrastructure for immediate take-off.

He noted that the Armed Forces currently face an estimated 93 per cent deficit in medical personnel, underscoring the need for a dedicated institution to strengthen military healthcare and ensure a steady supply of professionals.