HND Nurses to Undertake Industrial Attachment, Not Internship – NMCN Registrar
Abuja, Nigeria – 16 April 2026
In a welcome display of transparency and leadership, the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr Ndagi Al-Hassan, RN, PhD, has provided much-needed guidance to HND graduates from Colleges of Nursing.
Speaking during the highly informative Focusing on Young Nurses Initiative (FYNI) webinar held on Thursday, 16 April 2026, Dr Al-Hassan clarified that HND nurses will not participate in the one-year internship programme reserved for BNSc graduates. Instead, they will undertake the mandatory Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), also known as industrial attachment, in line with their programme structure.
The Registrar emphasised the clear distinction between the two qualifications. While BNSc graduates are required to complete internship for full NMCN registration, HND nurses follow the SIWES pathway before proceeding to NYSC.
👉 Join our Whatsapp channel Here
Dr Al-Hassan also shared encouraging updates on expanding training capacity. The NMCN is actively seeking approval to accredit additional high-standard facilities, including Federal Medical Centres (FMCs), military, police, navy and other paramilitary hospitals, as well as qualifying private and non-federal government institutions.
“We want to make sure that when we start, every nurse is posted fully and no nurse is left behind,” he assured participants.
He further revealed that the Council is already developing centralised posting modalities for HND nurses to ensure fairness, transparency and efficiency.
On the possibility of HND nurses eventually being considered for internship, Dr Al-Hassan responded thoughtfully: “As the system grows and evolves, HND nurses might be considered, but time will tell. That decision is not for your Registrar to make alone.”
Commendation and Appreciation
Fellow Nurses Africa warmly commends Dr Ndagi Al-Hassan for his candid, respectful and forward-looking leadership throughout the session. His willingness to address difficult questions with clarity and empathy is truly appreciated and reflects the NMCN’s strong commitment to the nursing profession.
We also extend heartfelt gratitude to the Focusing on Young Nurses Initiative (FYNI) for organising yet another excellent, free and impactful webinar. By creating this vital platform, FYNI continues to empower young nurses with timely information, guidance and hope at a critical stage in their careers.
Why This Update Matters
These clarifications remove long-standing confusion between the HND and BNSc pathways while signalling the NMCN’s proactive steps to scale up quality training facilities. The planned centralised approach for both streams demonstrates a genuine effort to uphold professional standards and support every graduate.
Key Points from the Webinar
- HND graduates: Industrial attachment (SIWES) – not internship
- BNSc graduates: Mandatory one-year internship
- Facility expansion: FMC, military, police, navy, paramilitary, private and qualifying non-federal hospitals under active review
- Centralised postings: Being developed for HND nurses
- Guiding principle: “No nurse left behind”
Fellow Nurses Africa will continue to monitor these important developments and bring you timely updates as soon as official guidelines are released.
👉 Join our Whatsapp channel Here
Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support nurses across Africa
Kehinde Oluwatosin is one of the many editors here at Fellow Nurses Africa and fellownurses.com.
He is a registered nurse with a Master of Science degree in healthcare leadership from the University of Hull, United Kingdom. Kehinde is passionate about advancing the nursing profession across Africa. As Co-Founder of Fellow Nurses Africa, he plays a key role in shaping editorial direction, ensuring our content educates, informs, and empowers nurses continent-wide.
With expertise in leadership, patient flow, and healthcare operations, Kehinde brings valuable insights to nursing news, career development, and policy discussions. He is committed to amplifying the voice of African nurses and driving positive change in the profession.
