Federal Government of Nigeria to Establish Armed Forces College of Medicine and Nursing Science

The Federal Government has advanced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM&HS) in a bold move aimed at strengthening military medical readiness and expanding Nigeria’s overall healthcare training capacity.

The strategic initiative was firmed up at a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmed, alongside the Minister of Defence, Christopher Gwabin Musa, the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, and other top stakeholders across the defence, health and education sectors.

Positioned as a key intervention under the NESRI 6-Point Agenda, particularly its focus on strengthening STEMM education, the proposed college is designed to create a structured and sustainable pipeline of combat casualty-trained doctors, trauma surgeons, emergency response medics, military public health experts, disaster and humanitarian response professionals, and other allied health specialists for the Armed Forces.

Speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Education painted a stark picture of Nigeria’s medical workforce deficit. With a population exceeding 240 million, he disclosed that only 189 medical doctors currently serve within the Defence Forces. Nationally, the country faces an estimated shortfall of about 340,000 doctors.

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He stressed that the scale of the challenge demands innovative and scalable training models. As part of broader reforms, the Federal Ministry of Education has already doubled annual medical school admissions from about 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with projections to scale up to approximately 19,000 annually in the coming years.

The Armed Forces College, he said, will serve as a critical pillar of this expansion drive.

In line with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions and in compliance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive, the new college will be established within the existing framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). It will leverage accredited federal and military hospitals to ensure robust clinical training and maintain high academic standards.

Clinical instruction will be anchored in designated military medical facilities structured to accommodate substantial student cohorts without compromising accreditation and quality benchmarks.

Admission into the college will be conducted through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Upon completion of their training, medical cadets will be commissioned as captains in the Armed Forces, combining world-class medical expertise with military discipline, leadership skills and operational readiness.

The model, officials say, is deliberately structured to enhance retention, reduce attrition and guarantee a steady pipeline of commissioned medical officers for Nigeria’s Armed Forces.

source: vanguardngr.com

NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY KADUNA RELEASES LIST OF SUCCESFUL AND RESERVE CANDIDATES FOR ADMISSION INTO 75 REGULAR COMBATANT COURSE

NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY

1. The Armed Forces Selection Board (AFSB) Interview for 75 Regular Course (RC) of Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) took place from 27 May – 14 July, 2023. The List of Successful Candidates whose names appear below and can also be accessed through the NDA Official Website www.nda.edu.ng were successful at the AFSB Interview. The candidates have been offered admission into NDA for the 75 RC and the successful candidates are to report to NDA Ribadu Campus (old site), Kaduna on Saturday 26 August 2023. Cadets upon admission into the NDA are full time students and not employees in training. They shall not claim any form of right or engagement whatsoever as an employee of the institution or Federal Government of Nigeria upon dismissal or withdrawal from the Academy before commission as an officer. Any candidate who fails to report by Monday, 28 August 2023 will forfeit his or her place. Selected and Reserve candidates are to report on the same date and will be received on arrival at the reception centre located at the Centre of Excellence Building, NDA Ribadu Campus. 

2. Selected candidates MUST come along with the ORIGINAL copies of their credentials which include First School Leaving Certificate, Primary School Testimonial, School Certificate Results NECO/WAEC, Senior Secondary School Testimonials, Birth Certificate/ Declaration of Age and Letter of State of Origin. Any candidate who fails to present originals of the stated documents will not be accepted into the Academy. In addition, successful candidates are to come along with the following items: 

a. Two pairs of black and white trousers. 

b. One lounge suite (dark colour). 

c. A pair of national dress. 

d. Two belts (preferably black). 

e. One pair of black cover shoes. 

f. Two pairs of white canvas shoes. 

g. Two pairs of white shorts. 

h. Pyjamas. 

i. Two pairs of brown canvas. 

j. One pair of Football boot 

k. Electronic Tablet (Tab) 

l. Hockey stick. 

m. Three pairs of blue shorts and white round neck vests. 

n. Two white shirts (long sleeves). 

o. Four pairs of white socks. 

p. One black rubber-strapped digital quartz wristwatch. 

q. Black polish, brushes, shaving kit and toiletries. 

r. Two white bed sheets and pillow cases for 8 spring bed. 

s. Black swimming trunk/shirt. 

t. Personal computer (laptop). 

u. Pressing iron. 

3. Female candidates should come along with the following items in addition: 

a. One pair of black low heel cover shoes. 

b. Four lounge skirts (dark colours) 

c. Four pairs of black or blue short tight 

d. Two pairs of trouser suits. 

4. Selected candidates are not allowed to receive visitors and will not leave the Academy for the first three months of training. Selected candidates and their parents are to please note the above for strict compliance. 

5. All selected candidates MUST upload their O Level result with JAMB before reporting to the Academy. 

6. Enquiries and further information could be sent to the email address academyregistrar@nda.edu.ng or call 09128273656

                                                                                                                                Signed 

                                                                                                                              AM TUKUR 

                                                                                                                              Brigadier General 

                                                                                                                              Academy Registrar 

SOURCE: NIGERIAN DEFENCE ACADEMY