Ebenezer Adurokiya, Reporting
THE Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences (AFCOM-HS) has officially been listed on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) portal for the 2026/2027 academic session, the Federal Ministry of Defence announced on Saturday.
The listing marks a major milestone in the take-off of Nigeria’s dedicated tri-service military medical institution, which is preparing to welcome its pioneer intake of 100 cadets.
Located in Yaba, Lagos, AFCOM-HS will combine medical and health sciences education with military officer development, offering qualified young Nigerians a pathway to professional qualification, leadership and service in the Armed Forces.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, welcomed the development as a generational dividend of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, reflecting the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening military medical education, personnel welfare and operational readiness.
“This is an important milestone for the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces. Under the leadership of Mr President, we are taking a practical step towards building the medical expertise our Armed Forces need.
“AFCOM-HS will give talented young Nigerians the opportunity to train as healthcare professionals and develop as military officers,” the Minister stated.
With the requisite approvals secured from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for its Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) and Nursing Science (B.NSc.) programmes, the university is preparing to admit its pioneer cohort of 100 cadets.
Its training model brings together academic excellence, military discipline, professional ethics and leadership development.
Mr Matawalle noted that the university would help address the Armed Forces’ longstanding need for a stronger and more dependable pipeline of doctors, nurses and other military healthcare professionals.
“The health of our personnel is central to military readiness. By investing in those who will care for them, we strengthen the Services and provide a foundation for future specialist training, research and operational medicine,” he said.
AFCOM-HS is strategically located in Lagos, Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence, within the premises of the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital, Yaba, and within a major concentration of teaching hospitals, specialist facilities and academic institutions.
This environment provides substantial opportunities for clinical exposure and professional development.
The Minister particularly commended the Minister of Education, Dr Olatunji Alausa, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Armed Forces leadership for their continued support towards the actualisation of the landmark initiative.
He equally commended the Director-General of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MODHIP), Brigadier General I.B. Solebo, and the relevant educational and professional regulatory authorities for their diligence, technical expertise and sustained coordination in bringing about the milestone.
The Minister encouraged academically qualified young Nigerians to follow official channels for details of the pioneer admissions process.
Further information on eligibility, application procedures, applicable JAMB processes, military selection requirements and relevant dates will be issued through authorised AFCOM-HS and JAMB channels.
The Ministry advised prospective candidates and parents to rely on these official sources.
