By Peter Duru, Makurdi 

The Benue State College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi, has secured full accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), paving the way for the institution to attain full collegiate status and commence Diploma and Higher National Diploma programmes. 

The State Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Makurdi at the weekend, expressing optimism that the development would significantly boost healthcare manpower in the state. 

According to him, the NBTE accreditation would enable the college to expand its training capacity and admit more students, thereby addressing the persistent shortage of nurses in Benue State. 

Dr Ogwuche recalled that the college earlier received accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) in September 2022, following which its first set of students were indexed and are currently undergoing training. 

“The NBTE team undertook a resource inspection and accreditation visit to the college towards the end of last year. The reports I have received so far are satisfactory and encouraging,” he said. 

He explained that before the visit, the state government carried out significant infrastructural upgrades, improved library resources, updated the curriculum and strengthened healthcare training systems to meet accreditation requirements. 

“The NBTE team was satisfied with the facilities on ground and has given its approval. They have also forwarded their recommendation to the Minister of Health for the final signature. That is the only thing we are waiting for now,” Dr Ogwuche added. 

The commissioner further disclosed that the college currently has over 115 students and up to date with its academic sessions, stressing that necessary modalities have been put in place to commence the sale of admission forms into various programmes. 

“From what I am hearing, between now and the first week of February, the minister’s final approval will be out,” he stated. 

He also announced that arrangements had been concluded to relocate the Department of Nursing of Benue State University (BSU), which is presently operating within the premises of the College of Nursing and Midwifery, to the university’s main campus. 

It would be recalled that in September 2024, Benue State University successfully secured accreditation for its Department of Nursing, a development aimed at strengthening healthcare training and expanding nursing education in the state.