Minister of Education Inaugurates Implementation and Monitoring Committee for TETFund Medical Simulation Centers
Minister of Education Inaugurates Implementation and Monitoring Committee for TETFund Medical Simulation Centers
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa, today inaugurated the Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee for the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Medical Simulation Centers. The inauguration ceremony took place at the TETFund Auditorium, Maitama, Abuja.
The Minister emphasized the critical need for transformative change in Nigeria’s healthcare system, highlighting the significant challenges facing the nation and the importance of investing in the education and training of future healthcare professionals. He stressed that medical simulation represents a crucial step towards building a 21st-century healthcare system capable of competing on the global stage.
Dr. Alausa explained that while traditional medical education remains essential, the increasing complexities of healthcare demand more advanced training methods. Medical simulation, adapted from aviation industry best practices, offers a safe and controlled environment for healthcare professionals to practice skills, hone critical thinking, and improve decision-making. This approach addresses critical needs including:
* **Improved Patient Safety and Quality of Care:** Reducing unsafe practices and preventable medical errors.
* **Cost Savings:** Minimizing costly medical errors.
* **Addressing Manpower Shortages:** Upskilling healthcare workers to address the low doctor-to-patient ratio.
* **Curriculum Integration:** Supporting the transition to an integrated medical curriculum.
* **Enhanced Clinical Proficiency:** Moving beyond knowledge acquisition to practical skill mastery, shifting from the traditional “See One, Do One, Teach One” model to a “See One, Practice Many, Do One” approach.
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The Minister highlighted the findings of a TETFund Ad-Hoc Committee (established in November 2024) which revealed a critical lack of medical simulation centers and limited adoption of advanced technologies like telemedicine and virtual patient care in Nigerian universities. This underscored the urgency for investment in this area.
The newly inaugurated 19-member Implementation and Monitoring Committee, chaired by world-renowned neurosurgeon Professor Wale Sulaiman, CON, will oversee the establishment and operation of the simulation centers. The Committee’s key responsibilities include:
* Finalizing proposals for the establishment of approved medical simulation centers.
* Ensuring compliance with project goals and objectives.
* Collaborating with selected institutions on center setup and implementation.
* Providing project management oversight.
* Implementing recommendations from the TETFund committee report on medical simulation.
* Developing quality assurance measures and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
* Establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for evaluation.
* Engaging external support and expertise as needed.
The Committee’s three-year term is renewable. The Minister stressed that this initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes healthcare system transformation through investment, infrastructure upgrades, and workforce development.
Dr. Alausa concluded by expressing gratitude to the committee members and urging collaborative efforts to achieve the highest standards of excellence in building a safer and more compassionate healthcare future for Nigeria.
