Nursing Council of Nigeria Approves SAISSCE for Admission into Nursing Programmes
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has officially confirmed the acceptance of the Senior Arabic and Islamic Secondary School Certificate Examination (SAISSCE) as a valid qualification for admission into nursing programmes across Nigeria.
In a letter released by the Council and signed by the Acting Registrar/CEO, Ndagri Hassan, institutions offering nursing education were directed to recognize SAISSCE for admissions, in line with previously established approvals by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Council on Education (NCE), dating back to February 2011.
According to the circular, the Council emphasized that SAISSCE—conducted under the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS)—remains a recognized equivalent to other national secondary school qualifications such as WAEC and NECO SSCE, and should be considered eligible for admission into basic and general nursing programmes.
Nursing Institutions Accepting SAISSCE in Nigeria
A growing number of nursing training institutions and universities offering nursing degrees now accept NBAIS qualifications in compliance with the directive. These include:
- Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria
Recognizes NBAIS/SAISSCE results for admission into its nursing programme, provided all UTME and subject requirements are met. - Bayero University, Kano (BUK)
Considers qualified SAISSCE holders for its Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, including Nursing Science. - University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID)
Accepts SAISSCE as a valid qualification for nursing and health-related undergraduate courses. - Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS)
In accordance with NMCN’s directive, UDUS admits candidates with SAISSCE for nursing and medical programmes. - Sokoto State University
Recognizes the certificate under its admission criteria for nursing and allied health courses. - Kano State College of Nursing Sciences
Provides admission to applicants with NBAIS results who meet other programme-specific requirements. - Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery
Accepts SAISSCE holders into basic nursing and midwifery programmes, subject to screening and academic benchmarks.
Council’s Directive to Institutions
The Nursing Council’s circular urges all heads of training institutions, registrars, and admission officers to comply with the directive and ensure fair consideration for candidates presenting SAISSCE certificates. It also stresses the need to disseminate the information to all relevant departments and staff involved in the admission process.
This reaffirmation is part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to standardize entry qualifications into nursing and midwifery education in Nigeria, ensuring that all recognized national certificates are given equal opportunity within the healthcare training system.
