By Ene Linda Ajaka
The Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, has met with the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (N&MCN), Dr. Alhassan Ndagi, and his executive team to discuss expanding access to the B.Sc Nursing programme.
The crux of the meeting was to reach a common ground that would allow every qualified individual who meets university entry requirements to pursue http://B.Sc Nursing, not just those already registered with the N&MCN. Currently, admission into the programme is limited to registered nurses with the N&MCN.
Nursing remains the backbone of any healthcare system, serving as the first line of care in hospitals, clinics, and communities. Nurses manage patients, administer treatment, educate families, and often make critical decisions in emergencies. No country can achieve universal health coverage or respond effectively to disease outbreaks without a strong, well-trained nursing workforce. With Nigeria’s growing population and rising burden of both communicable and non-communicable diseases, the demand for qualified nurses continues to outstrip supply, making the expansion of university-level nursing education a public health imperative.
As Nigeria’s foremost open and distance learning institution, NOUN is uniquely positioned to bridge this gap. Its flexible learning model can accommodate working professionals, candidates in rural areas, and students who cannot access conventional universities due to capacity or location constraints. By opening the http://B.Sc Nursing pathway to all qualified candidates with university entry requirements, NOUN can increase the supply of degree-holding nurses needed for advanced clinical practice, research, and leadership roles.
The proposed expansion would also promote equity in health education, giving more Nigerians a chance to enter and advance in the profession regardless of their background. It would further support lifelong learning for practicing nurses seeking academic upgrading while remaining in service, and strengthen Nigeria’s health workforce in line with global standards and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Prof. Uduma and Dr. Ndagi’s engagement signals a willingness to align regulatory standards with the urgent need to scale up nursing education. If consensus is reached, the partnership between NOUN and N&MCN could become a model for expanding access without compromising quality.