Studying nursing in Nigeria is a lucrative step towards pursuing a fulfilling career in healthcare. Nursing is one of the respected professions in Nigeria. This career comes with a lot of perks such as high earning potential. Additionally, professionals in this field are in high demand in Nigeria and every part of the world. Studying Nursing in Nigeria can be highly competitive. You must have the right qualifications to study nursing. Additionally, you need to be prepared mentally for the hurdles that come with acquiring this degree. However, with the right preparation, you can scale through from the admission stage to graduation.
In this piece, I will guide you through the admission requirements that are needed for studying Nursing in Nigeria.
Paths to become a Nurse in Nigeria
There are two paths to becoming a nurse in Nigeria. These paths are both professional as well as challenging. Additionally, you will learn the basic requirements of nursing through any of the paths.
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Nursing School
There are several nursing schools in Nigeria. This is different from a university. In nursing school, the duration for studying is three years. Furthermore, you must write an external exam which is conducted by the nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria. Additionally, you will become a Registered Nurse after passing the examination.
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University
This is another path to becoming a nurse in Nigeria. You can apply to an accredited university to study. Additionally, the duration for studying in the university is five years. Secondly, you must write the external exam conducted by the nursing and midwifery council of Nigeria. Additionally, you must write the exams conducted by the West Africa Health Examination Board. However, you will become a Registered Nurse(RN), a Registered Midwife and a Registered Public Health Nurse after passing the examination. Additionally, you will earn a bachelor’s degree in Nursing.
Requirements for studying Nursing in Nigeria
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Age
The minimum age requirement for studying Nursing in Nigeria is 16 years old. You have to be 16 years and above to be able to gain admission in a university or a nursing school in Nigeria. However, this may vary for different universities. Therefore, you need to verify from your preferred institution before applying.
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O’level Results
You must have your O’level results before you can study nursing in Nigeria. You can use results such as WAEC, NECO or NABTEB. However, you need to verify from your choice of institution to find out the results that are acceptable. Additionally, your results should not be more than two sittings. Furthermore, you should have a minimum of credits in subjects such as Mathematics, English, Physics, Biology and Chemistry.
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Write the JAMB examination
If you are applying to study in the university, you must write the JAMB examination. You must register and write subjects such as English, Mathematics, Biology and Mathematics. Additionally, you should have a minimum of 250 in your examination. A high JAMB score will give you a higher chance of getting admitted.
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Write the POST UTME/Entrance Examination
If you are applying to a university, you need to write the POST UTME. Additionally, candidates applying to a nursing school must write the entrance examination for that nursing school.
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Direct Entry
If you want to gain admission to study nursing through direct entry, you must fulfill the following requirements. You must have a minimum of credits in your O’level results. You should have a minimum of credits in subjects such as Mathematics, English, Physics and Chemistry. Additionally, you must be a registered nurse(RN) with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
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Post Basic Psychiatric Nursing Programme
You must be a registered nurse before you can apply for this programme. Additionally, you need to fulfill all the requirements that are needed from the school that you are applying to.
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Post Basic Midwifery Programme
You must be a registered nurse before you can apply for this programme. Additionally, you need to fulfill all the requirements that are needed from the school that you are applying to.
How to Apply
To apply to the nursing school, you need to buy the entrance form, take the entrance examination and attend the interview. However, if you are applying to a university, you need to register the university and course while you are registering for the JAMB examination. Additionally, you need to sit for the POST-UTME.
Duration
The duration for studying nursing in Nigeria depends on the path as well as the programme you wish to take. The duration for studying nursing in nursing school is three(3) years while the duration for studying nursing in a university is five(5) years. Additionally, the duration for the post basic psychiatric programme as well as the post basic midwifery is one year and six months.
Tuition Fee
The tuition fee for studying nursing in Nigeria varies based on the programme and the university you are applying to. The average tuition fee for a nursing school in Nigeria is between N50,000 to N200,000 annually. Additionally, the cheapest university for Nursing in Nigeria is Federal universities followed by state universities. Private universities are the most expensive places to study Nursing in Nigeria.
Nursing Training Institutions in Nigeria
There are over 400 nursing training institutions in Nigeria. These include nursing schools, universities as well as post basic midwifery schools. There is a nursing institution in every state. Kindly find the list below.
Nursing Schools
- School of Nursing, Amachara, Abia State
- School of Nursing Ituk-Mbang, Akwa-Ibom State
- Aliko Dangota School of Nursing, Bauchi State
- School of Nursing, Ikot-Ekpene, Akwa-Ibom State
- School of Nursing, Ihiala, Anambra State
- School of Nursing, Tombia, Bayelsa State
- School of Nursing, Mkar, Benue State
- School of Nursing Maiduguri, Borno State
- School of Nursing, Ogoja, Cross river State
- School of Nursing, Warri, Delta State
- School of Nursing, Afikpo, Ebonyi State
- School of Nursing, Benin City, Edo State
- School of Nursing, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti, State
- School of Nursing Gombe, Gombe State
- School of Nursing, Mbano, Imo State
- School of Nursing, Birnin-Kudu, Jigawa State
- School of Nursing, Wusasa, Kaduna State
- School of Nursing, Kano State
- School of Nursing, Ilorin, Kwara State
- School of Nursing, Igando, Lagos State
School of Post Basic Midwifery
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Anua-Uyo, Akwa-ibom State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Abiriba, Abia State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery,Waterside, Onitsha, Anambra State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Obudu, Cross Rivers State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Military Hospital, Lagos State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Asaba, Delta State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Ebonyi State
- School of Post Basic, Midwifery Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery Emekuku, Imo State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery Wusasa, Kaduna State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Gezawa, Kano State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Anyigba, Kogi State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Abeokuta, Ogun State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Osogbo, Osun State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
- School of Post Basic Midwifery, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State
Universities in Nigeria that Offer Nursing
- University Of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
- Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto State
- Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State
- Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State
- Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State
- University Of Maiduguri, Borno State
- University of Calabar, Cross River State
- Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State
- Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
- University of Benin, Edo State
- Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State
- Afe Babalola University, Ekiti, Ekiti State
- University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State
- Imo State University, Owerri, Imo State
- Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State
- Bayero University Kano, Kano State
- University of Ilorin, Kwara State
- University of Lagos, Lagos State
- Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State
- Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State
- Bowen University, Oyo State
- University of Ibadan, Oyo State
In Conclusion, you need to know that studying nursing in Nigeria is rewarding no matter the route you choose to take. You only need the right preparation as well as hard work to achieve your career. Therefore, you need to make sure that your qualifications are in line with the admission requirements for your school of choice. Additionally, you need to make sure you make your applications before the deadline. Feel free to reach out to us for further inquires!
Good luck!