The Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, has urged vice-chancellors of Nigerian universities to introduce specialised healthcare degree programmes to address workforce shortages and create more employment opportunities for graduates. The proposed courses include Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, Clinical Psychology and Medical Social Work, according to a statement issued on Sunday, 18 October 2026, by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.
Alausa said the programmes would help Nigeria train more qualified professionals to meet the growing demand for specialised healthcare and social services. He noted that strengthening local expertise in these fields could bridge existing gaps in specialist care and reduce the country’s dependence on external professionals.
The minister also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to establishing autism centres across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. The planned centres are expected to provide diagnostic and therapeutic services, support research and serve as regional hubs for families, healthcare professionals and educational institutions working with people on the autism spectrum.
Alausa urged university administrators to collaborate with Dr Victoria Amu, chairman of the Federal Government’s Ministerial Committee on the Advancement of Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language Therapy, as well as relevant regulatory agencies and professional bodies. He stressed that the proposed degree programmes must meet appropriate academic and professional standards and equip graduates with the skills required to deliver effective services.
The minister commended Amu for her efforts to advance the specialised healthcare fields and expressed confidence that cooperation between universities, professional bodies and regulators would accelerate the introduction of the courses. He added that the initiatives form part of broader Federal Government efforts to strengthen human capital development, address critical workforce shortages and build a more inclusive higher education system in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
