Nursing students in Nigeria
For many years, nursing students in Nigeria lived with fear — the fear of being sent away after failing the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s professional examinations three times. That rule, many said, destroyed dreams and wasted potential. However, that era is over.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has now scrapped the policy that dismissed students after three failed examination attempts. Under the new system, any student who fails a part of the examination can retake that specific section until they pass — as long as they maintain an attendance rate of at least 80 per cent in class and complete all clinical postings.
The Registrar of the Council, Ndagi Alhassan, said the reform is part of efforts to make nursing education more flexible, inclusive, and focused on helping students succeed. “We are moving from a system of elimination to one of support,” he explained.
Education experts see this as a significant win, especially with the rise of Open and Distance Learning (ODL) in Nigeria. Through ODL, students can learn at their own pace, access lectures online, and receive continuous assessment rather than relying solely on one big final examination.
This flexible style of learning is already working well in other countries. In the United Kingdom, the Open University enables nurses to balance work and study through its online learning programmes. The same system has been adopted in South Africa, where the University of South Africa offers distance learning programmes for nurses, combining theory with practical hospital experience.
Dr Grace Nwosu, a nursing lecturer, said the new policy will help more students complete their training and boost the number of skilled nurses in the country. “Some people only need more time and guidance. This new system gives them that chance,” she said.
Health experts also believe that the reform could help alleviate Nigeria’s nursing shortage, as more students will now complete their education rather than dropping out of school.
As the new policy takes effect from September 2025, stakeholders say it is not just a change in rules — it is a change in mindset. Nursing in Nigeria is finally ditching an obsolete approach, and moving toward a system that values patience, compassion, and continuous learning — the same values that nurses bring to the bedside every day.
Leave feedback about this