Nursing Schools and Programs in Nigeria

Nursing Studies in Nigeria

Nursing students learn to care for patients across the life course: anatomy and physiology, clinical nursing, community and public health, maternal and child health, and the ethics of professional practice, with supervised clinical placements. In Nigeria nursing is a regulated profession, and both the training institution and the programme must be approved before a graduate can register as a nurse.

SpainExchange lists one school in Nigeria for nursing: Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in Ile-Ife, Osun State, one of three universities founded in Nigeria in 1961-62. According to the university, it now has over 30,000 students.

How nursing education is organised in Nigeria

Nursing and midwifery education is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), a body under the Federal Ministry of Health set up in 1979. By law, the Council sets the standards for nursing and midwifery education and practice, and it publishes a list of approved schools of nursing, schools of midwifery, post-basic nursing schools and university departments of nursing, with their accreditation status and admission quotas. According to the NMCN, Nigeria has over 250,000 registered nursing and midwifery professionals.

The NMCN recognises several training routes:

• basic (general) nursing and basic midwifery at schools of nursing and midwifery
• the Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc), taught by university departments of nursing
• post-basic specialisations for qualified nurses, for example paediatric, peri-operative, occupational health and intensive care nursing

University degrees are also approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC), which grants approval for all academic programmes in Nigerian universities.

Nursing at Obafemi Awolowo University

At OAU, the Bachelor of Nursing Science is a five-year professional degree in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, offered full time and by open and distance learning (ODL). According to the faculty, the programme holds full NUC accreditation for 2025-2028, following an accreditation visit in December 2024, and has produced more than 500 nursing graduates over the past six years. In November 2025 the University Senate approved turning the Department of Nursing Science into a Faculty of Nursing; the change was still awaiting final approval by the University Council.

At postgraduate level, the faculty runs MSc, MPhil and PhD programmes. OAU's Postgraduate College requires at least a second class lower division bachelor's degree, or a grade point average of B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), for a master's degree.

Admission

Entry to Nigerian universities and colleges of nursing runs through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and its UTME exam. For 2026, JAMB set a minimum score of 150 for both universities and colleges of nursing, and the minimum age for admission is 16. Individual institutions may ask for more.

• NMCN entry requirement: five O-level credit passes in Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry and Biology, in no more than two sittings
• OAU UTME subjects for Nursing: English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology
• OAU direct entry: a B.Sc. with at least a 2:1 in a relevant biological science, or 3 A-level passes in Biology, Chemistry and Physics

Students with results from a foreign examination board must submit an evaluation report or equivalent grading from the Federal Ministry of Education, according to the NMCN.

Student visa

Foreign students who come to Nigeria for full-time study need a Student Visa from the Nigeria Immigration Service. Applicants must provide an official admission letter, proof of financial support, medical insurance where applicable and evidence of accommodation. Student visa holders may not take paid employment unless it is authorised under internship or recognised work-study arrangements.

Careers

Graduate nurses work in hospitals and clinics, community and public health, maternal and child health, education and research. To practise in Nigeria they register with the NMCN, which also handles licence renewals and certificate verification.

Frequently asked questions

How long is a nursing degree in Nigeria?

At OAU, the Bachelor of Nursing Science is a five-year programme. Basic nursing and midwifery training at schools of nursing is a separate route approved by the NMCN.

What subjects do I need to study nursing in Nigeria?

The NMCN requires five O-level credits in Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry and Biology. At OAU, the UTME subjects for Nursing are English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

Who approves nursing schools in Nigeria?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria approves nursing and midwifery schools and university nursing departments; the NUC also approves university degree programmes.

Can I apply with a foreign secondary school certificate?

Yes, but the NMCN expects an evaluation report or equivalent grading of the results from the Federal Ministry of Education.