Zamfara University Nursing Graduates Stranded as Accreditation Crisis Delays Professional Exams

Zamfara University Nursing Graduates Stranded as Accreditation Crisis Delays Professional Exams

FNA NEWS, 23rd Of September, 2026

More than 100 Nursing and Physiotherapy students and graduates at Zamfara State University are reportedly affected by professional accreditation and indexing problems, with nursing graduates among those unable to proceed to the next stage of their professional careers.

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More than 100 students and graduates of Nursing and Physiotherapy at Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, are reportedly facing uncertainty over their professional careers following delays linked to accreditation and professional indexing.

The development, reported by SaharaReporters on September 20, has particularly affected nursing graduates who are expected to proceed through the professional examination and registration process overseen by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

According to reports from affected students, two sets of students have graduated from the programmes without being indexed by their respective professional regulatory bodies.

Some nursing graduates who were expecting to proceed to the NMCN professional examination are reportedly at home while waiting for the accreditation and indexing process to be resolved. Others are said to have spent several months on internship without a clear timeline for the next stage of their professional journey.

Why the nursing accreditation issue matters

For nursing students in Nigeria, graduating from a university programme is not, by itself, the final step towards professional practice.

The NMCN is the statutory body responsible for regulating nursing and midwifery education and practice in Nigeria. Its functions include accrediting nursing training institutions, indexing nursing students, conducting professional examinations, maintaining the professional register and issuing professional licences.

Indexing is therefore a critical part of the nursing education pathway.

The Council states that it indexes nursing and midwifery students at the commencement of their training. It also conducts the professional examinations required for nurses and midwives before registration and licensing.

When a graduate cannot complete these regulatory steps, the consequence can extend beyond an academic delay. It can affect when that graduate is able to move into the regulated nursing workforce.

NUC accreditation is not the same as NMCN accreditation

The Zamfara case also highlights an issue that prospective nursing students may not always understand: university accreditation and professional accreditation are separate regulatory processes.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) records show that the Nursing Science programme at Zamfara State University received full academic accreditation following an assessment conducted in February 2025. The programme scored 92.56 per cent.

However, NUC accreditation addresses the academic programme within the university system. Nursing education also falls under the professional regulatory responsibilities of NMCN.

The NMCN says its Inspectorate Department coordinates accreditation visits to nursing institutions, monitors accreditation status and maintains data on the accreditation of nursing and midwifery training institutions.

This distinction is important because a university can have an academically accredited Nursing Science programme while students may still have professional regulatory requirements to fulfil before they can proceed to professional examinations, registration and licensing.

Students question continued admissions

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Affected students have reportedly questioned why admissions continued into the programmes while professional accreditation concerns remained unresolved.

According to the report, students said they had approached government ministries and other authorities seeking assistance but had yet to receive a definitive solution.

They are calling on the Zamfara State Government, university management and relevant professional regulatory bodies to clarify the status of the programme and provide a clear pathway for affected students.

They also want the authorities to explain the steps being taken to complete the required accreditation and indexing processes and allow eligible graduates to proceed with their professional examinations.

SaharaReporters reported that its attempts to obtain comments from the university’s Vice-Chancellor and Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful. The Head of the Department of Nursing Science reportedly declined to comment on the matter. ([Sahara Reporters][2])

Fellow Nurses Africa has also not independently established the current professional accreditation status of the Nursing Science programme beyond the records and reports cited above.

What this means for nursing students

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The situation raises a wider question for nursing education in Nigeria: Who protects students when a professional programme moves from admission to graduation without all the regulatory requirements being completed?

For students, accreditation is not simply an administrative issue. It can determine whether years of academic training translate smoothly into professional examinations, registration and eventual practice.

It is therefore important for prospective nursing students and parents to look beyond the name of a university when considering where to study.

They should ask:

Is the specific Nursing Science programme approved by NMCN?

What is its current accreditation status?

What is the approved admission quota?

Are there any restrictions or embargoes on admission?

These checks can help students identify potential regulatory issues before committing years and significant financial resources to a programme.

Good news: Students can check NMCN-approved schools

There is now a useful resource directly from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

NMCN publishes an Approved Schools page containing the list of nursing training institutions approved by the Council, including accreditation status and admission information. The Council says the list is also intended to guide parents and prospective students seeking admission.

The Council currently lists 290 nursing training institutions across Nigeria in its published December 2025 data, including university departments offering Nursing Science. It also explains that full accreditation lasts five years, provisional accreditation lasts two years, and that institutions under embargo may be restricted from admitting students until identified deficiencies are addressed and the relevant decision is made.

However, prospective students should always check the latest available list and confirm the specific programme’s current status with NMCN before making admission decisions, because the Council states that the list is subject to periodic review.

Before You Enrol: Check. Verify. Ask Questions.

The Zamfara situation is a reminder that choosing a nursing school requires more than checking admission requirements or university rankings.

Check the NMCN-approved schools list. Verify the specific Nursing Science programme. Ask about its current accreditation status. And seek clarification from the relevant regulatory body when there is uncertainty.

For students preparing to enter nursing, these simple steps could help them make better-informed decisions about where they begin their professional journey.

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Fellow Nurses Africa is the independent voice of African nursing, we educate, inform and support nurses across Africa.