“In 2024, 4,399 medical doctors and 274 dentists graduated in Nigeria,” Salako noted, adding that 15,000 health workers were recruited in 2024.
ABUJA — Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, says the number of licensed medical and dental professionals in Nigeria rose from 64,949 in 2022 to 66,241 in 2024, representing a two per cent growth despite ongoing brain drain.
Speaking at the 2025 Business Day health conference in Abuja, themed “Transforming Nigeria’s Healthcare Landscape”, Salako highlighted government reforms aimed at repositioning the sector as a driver of national productivity and socio-economic advancement.
He said the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Initiative, launched in December 2023, had expanded training capacity for doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and laboratory scientists.
Medical and dental school quotas have risen by 38% and 62% respectively since 2023, while 19 new nursing schools have been established.
“In 2024, 4,399 medical doctors and 274 dentists graduated in Nigeria,” Salako noted, adding that 15,000 health workers were recruited in 2024.
The minister also unveiled the Energy for Health Initiative, deploying solar hybrid systems to eliminate outages in tertiary hospitals, citing improved services at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and FMC Keffi.
He said the goal was “to build, retain, and reward a fit-for-purpose health workforce for today and tomorrow.”