Nursing council supports local training to strengthen Nigeria’s nursing capacity and tackle the mass exodus of health professionals

Nursing council supports local training efforts in Nigeria as the country battles to retain its healthcare professionals amid growing migration challenges.

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The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to fostering the training of qualified nurses within the country.

The assurance came during a resource verification visit to the Department of Nursing Science at Iconic Open University in Sokoto State, where the Council assessed the school’s capacity to run a Bachelor of Nursing Science programme.

Dr Muhammad Sanusi, Registrar of Iconic Open University, said the visit aimed to evaluate the “human and material resources available for the education and training of nurses for the university’s bachelor’s degree.”

He noted that the Council reviewed the institution’s investment in Open and Distance Learning and expressed satisfaction with its facilities a promising signal at a time when Nigeria urgently needs scalable training systems to strengthen its nursing workforce.

According to Sanusi, the Council pledged to encourage such initiatives by ensuring that all standards are met, guaranteeing that both the programme and its trainees receive the quality education and recognition they deserve.

He added that the university’s management and nursing department had also pledged full compliance with the Council’s guidelines to enhance the programme’s quality and its impact on healthcare delivery nationwide.

The Nursing Bachelor’s programme forms part of the courses approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

It follows the NUC’s approval of postgraduate health programmes such as the Master of Public Health and Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health, reflecting a wider effort to build professional capacity in the sector.

However, the initiative arrives amid one of the most difficult periods for Nigeria’s nursing profession. The mass departure of nurses seeking better pay and conditions abroad — popularly known as the “Japa” wave — has left hospitals severely understaffed.

The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives estimated that more than 42,000 nurses have emigrated in the past three years alone.

The former Registrar of the Council, Faruk Abubakar, previously warned that the exodus poses a serious threat to the country’s healthcare system, urging greater investment in welfare and infrastructure.

Many nurses have cited poor remuneration, burnout, and a lack of modern medical equipment as key reasons for leaving.

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While challenges persist, the Council’s renewed commitment to local training offers a hopeful path forward — one that could help rebuild Nigeria’s nursing strength from within.