The National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) has begun talks with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) over plans to restructure its Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSC) programme to admit more Nigerians, including qualified O’Level holders.
The move is part of efforts to widen access to nursing education and help tackle the country’s growing shortage of healthcare professionals.
NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, led an 11-member delegation to the NMCN headquarters in Abuja, where discussions focused on aligning the university’s Open and Distance Learning model with the council’s professional and regulatory standards.
Speaking during the visit, Uduma said the university remains committed to inclusive education, stressing that many Nigerians interested in studying nursing are currently shut out by existing admission requirements.
“We are proposing a framework that allows O’Level holders to gain entry while still meeting all professional and clinical standards required for nursing practice,” he said.
He assured the council that NOUN would maintain strict compliance with NMCN guidelines, including the provision of medical facilities, supervised clinical attachments, and practical training.
“Open and Distance Learning has come to stay globally. We are ready to work within the council’s framework without compromising standards,” he added.
Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Prof. Helen Kwanashie, said the university possesses the academic capacity and infrastructure needed to train competent nurses capable of strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
She noted that the initiative could help produce more generic nurses trained from the secondary school level, boosting the country’s healthcare workforce.
Also speaking, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Shehu Usman Adamu, said all proposed training centres would operate strictly under the approval and supervision of the NMCN.
Responding, NMCN Registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Hassan Ndagi, welcomed the proposal and said the council would review NOUN’s framework before convening a technical meeting to determine the next steps for implementation.
