SPECIAL REPORT: JAMB, Education Ministry Must Move Fast Against Fake Nursing Colleges Across Nigeria

By OGB Admission Hub | September 2026 The increasing activities of unaccredited nursing training institutions across Nigeria have become a serious threat to students, parents and the country's healthcare system. With Nursing now one of the most sought-after courses in Nigeria, desperate admission seekers are increasingly vulnerable to institutions advertising nursing programmes without approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) . Recent enforcement actions in Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States show that this is not merely an online scam problem. In some cases, students had already paid fees and commenced lectures before authorities intervened. OGB Admission Hub believes stronger coordination between JAMB, the Federal Ministry of Education, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NMCN and state governments is urgently required. NMCN Is the Regulator Candidates Must Check The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is legally responsible for accrediting nursing and midwifery training institutions, setting professional standards, conducting professional examinations and registering qualified nurses. Its functions also include prosecuting illegal training institutions. NMCN currently provides an official list of approved nursing training institutions and specifically advises parents and prospective students to use the list when making admission decisions. The Council also warns that accreditation can be provisional, full, withdrawn or placed under an embargo on student intake. This means that simply seeing "College of Nursing Sciences" on a signboard, website, Facebook advert or admission form does not prove that the institution is authorised to train nurses. Some Institutions Authorities Have Shut or Identified as Unaccredited The following examples are based on official government actions or reports quoting the relevant authorities. They should be described as institutions that were unaccredited or operating unauthorised nursing programmes at the time of the enforcement action , because accreditation status can subsequently change. 1. Tower College of Health Sciences, Gberigbe, Ikorodu, Lagos Lagos State authorities sealed the institution in November 2025 for operating an unaccredited nursing programme. Officials said it lacked NMCN accreditation and reported serious deficiencies, including the absence of a proper demonstration room and hospital affiliation for clinical postings. Some students were reportedly already at advanced levels despite not undergoing the required clinical training. 2. Ogbomoso College of Nursing Sciences, Ogbomoso, Oyo State The Oyo State Government announced the closure of this institution in July 2025, stating that it was operating without NMCN accreditation. According to the state's Ministry of Health, students had already begun receiving lectures despite the lack of regulatory approval. 3. Covenant College of Health Technology and Medical Sciences, Apata, Ibadan Oyo State authorities sealed the institution in October 2025. The state's Ministry of Health said it was running unauthorised programmes described as "Nursing Technician" and "Nursing Assistant." Officials stated that these programmes are not recognised within Nigeria's approved nursing training framework. 4. Universal Public Health Science, Ifo, Ogun State In February 2026, Ogun State authorities shut down the facility after finding that it was offering Nursing, Community Health and Public Health programmes without the required nursing accreditation. Officials also raised concerns about the facilities being used for the training. 5.Sapphire College of Health Technology could not be verified on the NMCN list of approved nursing institutions. Candidates considering any Nursing programme there should demand evidence of current NMCN accreditation before paying fees. These are only documented examples and should not be treated as a complete national blacklist . Where JAMB Comes In JAMB now has an increasingly important role in nursing admissions. At the 2026 Policy Meeting , Colleges of Nursing were specifically included in the national tertiary admission framework, with a minimum tolerable UTME admission score of 150 . JAMB has also maintained that valid tertiary admissions must be processed through the Board and reflected on its eFacility/CAPS system. It warns that admissions offered outside the recognised system may not be recognised. This creates an opportunity to fight fake nursing admissions more aggressively. What Government Should Do OGB Admission Hub believes a simple but powerful system could protect thousands of candidates. JAMB and NMCN databases should be fully integrated. Any institution without current NMCN approval for Nursing should automatically be prevented from processing Nursing candidates through CAPS. Every Nursing admission advertisement should also carry a verifiable NMCN accreditation number , just as candidates rely on JAMB registration numbers and institutional codes. The Federal Ministries of Education and Health, together with NMCN, should maintain a single publicly searchable national portal showing: approved institution; approved nursing programme; accreditation status; admission quota; date accreditation expires; whether student intake is currently permitted; and whether an institution is under investigation, embargo or withdrawal of accreditation. NMCN already states that full accreditation normally lasts five years, provisional accreditation two years, while an embargo on admission remains until deficiencies are corrected and the regulator lifts the restriction. Why This Is Dangerous Beyond Losing School Fees A fake or unaccredited nursing college does more than waste a student's money. Nursing involves direct responsibility for human life. Students require properly equipped laboratories, qualified tutors, supervised clinical training and approved hospital placements. A person inadequately trained and later presented to society as a health professional could become a danger to patients. Ogun health officials made a similar point when closing the Ifo institution, warning that students risk spending years and scarce resources obtaining certificates that may not be recognised while the proliferation of poorly trained personnel could worsen quackery. How Candidates Can Protect Themselves Before paying for any nursing admission form, candidates should: Check the institution directly on the NMCN approved-schools list. Confirm that the specific Nursing programme being advertised is accredited—not merely the institution itself. Check whether the school has any current embargo on admission . For programmes operating under the JAMB admission framework, confirm that the institution and programme are available through legitimate JAMB channels. Never rely solely on WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok or an admission agent. Be suspicious of programmes carrying titles such as "Auxiliary Nurse," "Nursing Technician" or "Nursing Assistant" where they are presented as routes to becoming a registered professional nurse without recognised NMCN approval. Before paying large school fees, contact NMCN or the relevant State Ministry of Health if there is any doubt. OGB Admission Hub Position Nigeria needs more nurses, but the shortage of healthcare workers must never become an excuse for uncontrolled nursing schools . The country cannot attempt to solve one healthcare problem by creating another. JAMB has already brought Colleges of Nursing more firmly into the national admission structure. NMCN already has the statutory responsibility to accredit nursing schools and act against illegal institutions. What is needed now is stronger integration, real-time verification and nationwide enforcement . Parents should not discover after spending millions of naira and several years that the "College of Nursing" their child attended was never authorised to train nurses. One national database connecting JAMB, NMCN and the relevant ministries could prevent much of this problem before admission even begins. OGB Admission Hub Before choosing a Nursing school, verify first, pay later . For verified admission news, JAMB updates, school screening information, cut-off marks and admission guidance: www.ogbadmissionhub.com