Akwa Ibom State trains most of its nurses through public institutions, but the state now has a private option for candidates who prefer that route. This article explains which nursing schools in Akwa Ibom State are genuinely privately owned, what it costs to study nursing there for the 2026/2027 session, and how that compares with the public alternatives available in the state.
Understanding the Nursing Training Structure in Akwa Ibom State
Before looking at private options, it helps to understand how nursing training is organised in Akwa Ibom State, because the word “private” is sometimes used loosely for schools that are not actually privately owned.
For decades, nursing and midwifery training in the state ran through separate schools attached to government and mission hospitals, located in places such as Anua (Uyo), Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Ituk Mbang, and Oron. In 2021, the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly passed a law merging these separate schools into a single institution known as the Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences (AKSCONS), which now operates as one state-owned college with multiple campuses across those same towns. Because AKSCONS is government-owned, it does not count as a private nursing school, even though some of its individual campuses were historically linked to mission hospitals.
The state also has two other government-backed options: the Department of Nursing Science at the University of Uyo, a federal university offering the five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) degree, and the College of Nursing Sciences attached to the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, which trains nurses at the National Diploma (ND) level within a federal teaching hospital setting. Neither of these is privately owned either.
Given this structure, a candidate specifically searching for a private nursing school in Akwa Ibom State has one clearly established option, discussed in detail below, along with a note on how the surrounding landscape affects pricing and choice.
The Private Nursing School Option in Akwa Ibom State
Maurid College of Nursing Sciences, located in Mbiaso, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, holds the distinction of being the first privately owned College of Nursing Sciences in Akwa Ibom State and, by extension, one of the earliest in the wider South-South region of Nigeria. The college runs full-time National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes in General Nursing and Midwifery, and it operates under the same ownership as Maurid Polytechnic, a private polytechnic situated on the same campus in Mbiaso.
The college was set up specifically in response to the federal government’s policy direction of moving basic nursing training away from standalone hospital-based schools and into structured Colleges of Nursing Sciences, in partnership with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE). This means Maurid’s certification pathway follows the same national framework that governs other private and public colleges of nursing sciences across Nigeria, rather than an independent or unregulated curriculum.
Admission Requirements at Maurid College of Nursing Sciences
To gain admission into the ND Nursing Sciences and Midwifery programme, a candidate needs a minimum of five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings, whether through WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. Combinations such as WAEC and WAEC, NECO and NECO, or WAEC and NECO results are acceptable, though a NABTEB result must come from a single sitting rather than a combined one. Applicants are also expected to be at least 16 years of age at the point of admission, and recent admission cycles have accepted candidates who scored 150 and above in the relevant year’s JAMB UTME.
The college opens its application windows for each new session, including Midwifery, General Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Post-Basic Nursing, and internship placements, and it runs its own screening process for candidates who meet the baseline requirements.
Private Nursing School Fees in Akwa Ibom State for 2026/2027
Maurid College of Nursing Sciences does not publish a fixed, publicly listed tuition figure on a single official rate card, and like most private tertiary institutions in Nigeria, its fees are communicated directly to candidates once admission is confirmed, and they can be adjusted from one session to the next at the discretion of the school’s management. That said, a prospective student can still plan realistically by understanding the typical cost range for private Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Nigeria and the specific charges that make up a nursing student’s total bill.
Private Colleges of Nursing Sciences across Nigeria generally charge more than government-owned nursing colleges, because they do not benefit from state or federal subsidies and must cover the full cost of infrastructure, staffing, laboratory equipment, and clinical placement arrangements from tuition revenue. Based on the pricing pattern seen across comparable private nursing colleges nationwide, a first-year ND Nursing or Midwifery student at a private college can expect to pay a total that typically falls within a moderate-to-high range once tuition, accreditation-related charges, and clinical training costs are combined, with the figure normally settled and confirmed directly with the admissions office before payment.
The table below breaks down the categories of charges a private nursing student in Akwa Ibom State should expect to encounter, since these apply broadly across private nursing colleges even where the exact naira figures differ by session:
| Fee Category | What It Covers | When It Is Paid |
|---|---|---|
| Application/Screening fee | Processing of the candidate’s application and entrance screening | Before admission is confirmed |
| Acceptance fee | Securing the admission slot after an offer is made | Immediately after admission |
| Tuition | Core academic instruction for the session | At the start of each session or in agreed instalments |
| Laboratory and practical charges | Nursing skills laboratory use, simulation equipment, and consumables | Alongside tuition, per session |
| Clinical posting/hospital charges | Access to hospital wards and clinical supervision during practicals | From the clinical training stage onward |
| Uniform and clinical kit | Nursing uniforms, badges, and basic clinical tools | At the start of the programme |
| Hostel accommodation | On-campus lodging, where the student opts for it | Per session, separate from tuition |
| Examination and registration levies | Internal exams and NBTE/NMCN-related registration | Per session |
Because the school does not publish a single locked figure, the most reliable way for a candidate to get the exact 2026/2027 fee is to contact the college’s admission office directly through its official phone lines or email once the admission form for the session is released, and to request the current fee schedule in writing before making any payment.
Why Private Nursing School Fees Are Higher Than Public Options
A candidate weighing a private nursing school in Akwa Ibom State against the state-owned AKSCONS system or the federal options at the University of Uyo and its teaching hospital will notice a clear cost gap, and understanding why helps with realistic budgeting.
Public nursing colleges and university nursing departments receive government funding that offsets part of the real cost of training each student, which allows them to charge tuition that covers only a fraction of what it actually costs to run the programme. Private colleges, by contrast, receive no such subsidy. Every cost, from lecturers’ salaries to laboratory maintenance, clinical placement fees paid to partner hospitals, and facility upkeep, is passed on directly to students through tuition and associated charges. This is standard across Nigeria’s private tertiary education sector and is not unique to nursing or to Akwa Ibom State.
In exchange for the higher cost, private nursing colleges often offer smaller class sizes, more predictable academic calendars without the strikes that sometimes affect public institutions, and a more structured admission process that does not depend on competing for limited public college slots each session.
Comparing the Private Option with Public Nursing Training in Akwa Ibom State
| Institution Type | Example in Akwa Ibom | Ownership | Typical Cost Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private College of Nursing Sciences | Maurid College of Nursing Sciences, Mbiaso | Privately owned | Higher, no government subsidy |
| State College of Nursing Sciences | Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences (AKSCONS) | State government | Lower, state-subsidised |
| Federal teaching hospital college | College of Nursing Sciences, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital | Federal government | Lower, federally subsidised |
| Federal university degree route | Department of Nursing Science, University of Uyo | Federal government | Moderate, federally subsidised, but with a longer five-year duration |
A candidate who cannot secure a slot in one of the public options, or who prefers a private college’s academic calendar and smaller intake, will find Maurid College of Nursing Sciences as the established private route in the state. Candidates who are flexible about ownership type and mainly want the lowest possible cost should prioritise the AKSCONS campuses or the UUTH-affiliated college instead.
What to Confirm Before Paying Any Nursing School Fee in Akwa Ibom State
Regardless of which nursing school a candidate chooses, a few checks apply universally before any fee payment is made:
- Confirm that the specific programme (ND Nursing, Midwifery, or Public Health Nursing) is currently receiving applications for the exact session being paid for.
- Request a written or portal-based breakdown of tuition, acceptance fee, and other charges rather than relying on figures shared informally by agents or third parties.
- Verify that the institution’s nursing programme carries current accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and, for ND/HND routes, from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), since certification from an unaccredited programme will not be recognised for professional licensing.
- Pay only through the official channels stated by the school, whether that is a bank account listed on an official letterhead or a payment gateway on the institution’s own portal.
- Keep every payment receipt and admission correspondence, since these documents are needed at multiple stages of the programme, including licensing examinations after graduation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there more than one private nursing school in Akwa Ibom State?
As of now, Maurid College of Nursing Sciences in Mbiaso, Nsit Ibom Local Government Area, is the established and recognised private College of Nursing Sciences in the state. Other nursing training centres in Akwa Ibom, including the campuses at Anua, Eket, Ikot Ekpene, Ituk Mbang, and Oron, fall under the state-owned AKSCONS system rather than private ownership.
How much does Maurid College of Nursing Sciences charge per session?
The school does not publish one fixed public figure, and fees are communicated directly to admitted candidates and can change by session. Applicants should contact the college’s admission office directly for the confirmed 2026/2027 figure before making payment.
Is a private nursing school more expensive than a public one in Akwa Ibom State?
Yes. Private nursing colleges do not receive government subsidies, so their tuition and associated charges are generally higher than what state or federal nursing institutions in Akwa Ibom charge.
Does Maurid College of Nursing Sciences require JAMB for admission?
Recent admission cycles have accepted candidates with a JAMB UTME score of 150 and above, alongside the standard five O’Level credit requirement, so JAMB is part of the admission process for the ND programme.
Is Maurid College of Nursing Sciences accredited?
The college positions its programme within the National Board for Technical Education’s framework for Colleges of Nursing Sciences, in line with the national direction for basic nursing training. Candidates should still verify current accreditation status directly with the school or the relevant regulatory bodies before applying, since accreditation status can be reviewed over time.