The Federal Government has unveiled plans to expand annual enrolment of medical students to 20,000, a move aimed at boosting access to medical education and tackling manpower shortages triggered by the ‘Japa’ trend.
Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced this on Monday in Abuja while presenting the Federal Ministry of Education’s Communication Strategy (2025-2027).
Speaking on the Communications Strategy (2025-2027), Alausa explained that it is aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, and public trust through unified, data-driven communication.
He noted that the plan offers a coordinated framework for the Ministry, its agencies, and parastatals to communicate reforms more effectively. The strategy’s core objectives, he said, include defining clear priorities and target audiences, standardising processes and branding, boosting public awareness of policies, and improving interdepartmental coordination through evidence-based planning.
He said the reforms are part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), driven by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
‘We have doubled the intake of students in Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy in our health educational institutions. For medical students for example, from an enrollment of 5,000 students a couple of years back, we are well on our way to achieving 20,000 this new academic year. These are all aimed at addressing the critical manpower shortages in the health sector,’ Alausa said.
He added ‘These interventions are deliberate steps to address critical manpower shortages in the health sector and ensure that Nigerians are not denied access to quality healthcare because of the japa syndrome.’
The minister disclosed that 18 medical schools are being equipped with modern facilities, while 1,000 secondary school laboratories are being upgraded in partnership with PTDF. Nursing admissions have also surged from 28,000 to 115,000.
Beyond health education, Alausa outlined wider NESRI gains: 4,900 classrooms built, 3,000 renovated, 34 smart schools established, and over 2.3 million learners impacted in six months. The Almajiri Commission has mapped nearly one million children, with 35,000 reintegrated into formal education.
Other initiatives include free technical education with stipends, Nigeria’s WorldSkills International membership, and AI training for 6,000 teachers.
Alausa stressed that education remains central to national renewal, with reforms anchored on transparency, public trust, and bridging critical skill gaps.