Kaduna State hosts several government-run nursing training institutions, but candidates who cannot secure a slot at a state or federal school, or who prefer a faith-based or privately managed environment, often look toward the private nursing schools operating in the state. This article covers the private nursing schools in Kaduna State, what they offer, and what students should expect to pay for the 2026/2027 academic session.
What Counts as a Private Nursing School
A private nursing school in Nigeria is one owned and managed by a non-governmental body — typically a religious mission, a private hospital, or a privately incorporated health institution — rather than by a federal or state ministry of health or education. To be legally recognized, a private nursing school must still hold current accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the statutory body that regulates nursing and midwifery education and practice across the country. Without NMCN accreditation, a certificate from any nursing school, private or otherwise, is not valid for professional registration as a nurse in Nigeria. Candidates should always confirm a school’s accreditation status directly with NMCN or through the school’s own documentation before applying, since accreditation status can change between sessions.
Private Nursing Schools in Kaduna State
Kaduna State’s nursing education landscape is dominated by government-run institutions such as the Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery and the School of Nursing at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria. Alongside these, a small number of mission-affiliated and privately managed nursing schools also operate in the state, offering an alternative route into the nursing profession, often with more flexible admission timelines than government institutions.
College of Nursing Sciences, St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri
This institution is attached to St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital in Kakuri, Kaduna South, and is one of the more established privately run nursing training centres in the state. It offers Basic Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes, along with Post-Basic Nursing options for candidates who already hold a nursing qualification and wish to specialize further. The school is accredited by NMCN and draws on the hospital’s own clinical facilities for practical training, which gives students consistent hands-on exposure throughout the programme.
St. Louis College of Nursing Sciences, Zonkwa
Formerly known as St. Louis School of Midwifery, this institution is located in Zonkwa, Southern Kaduna, and has trained nurses and midwives since the early 1960s, making it one of the oldest nursing training institutions in the state. It is a mission-affiliated private school and offers Basic Midwifery, Basic Nursing, and several post-basic specialty programmes, including Post-Basic Nursing, Post-Basic Midwifery, and Perioperative Nursing. The long operating history of the school means it has produced a large number of graduates who now practice both within and outside Nigeria.
School Fees for Private Nursing Schools in Kaduna State
Private nursing schools generally charge more than government-run institutions in the same state, since they do not receive the same level of subvention or subsidy that state and federal schools benefit from. The table below outlines the general fee pattern for the private nursing schools operating in Kaduna State, alongside the government-run schools in the state for comparison, so prospective students can see how the cost structures differ.
| School | Ownership | Estimated Fees (Per Session) |
|---|---|---|
| College of Nursing Sciences, St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital, Kakuri | Private/Mission | ₦120,000 – ₦180,000 |
| St. Louis College of Nursing Sciences, Zonkwa | Private/Mission | Varies by programme; contact school for current figures |
| Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery | State Government | ₦40,000 – ₦100,000 |
| School of Nursing, ABUTH Zaria | Federal Government | ₦150,000 – ₦250,000 |
These figures represent tuition and core academic charges only. Private, mission-affiliated schools like St. Gerard’s and St. Louis do not publish a single fixed figure that applies uniformly to every programme and every session; the exact amount depends on whether a candidate is applying for the basic programme or a post-basic specialty, and fees are typically confirmed directly with the school’s admissions or bursary office once an applicant has been screened and offered a place.
Why Private Nursing School Fees Are Higher
Private nursing schools in Kaduna State, like private nursing schools elsewhere in Nigeria, generally charge more than their government counterparts for several straightforward reasons. They do not receive government subvention to offset the cost of running clinical training, laboratory equipment, and teaching staff salaries, so tuition has to cover a larger share of the school’s actual operating cost. Many mission-affiliated schools also maintain smaller class sizes and closer clinical supervision ratios than some government institutions, which raises the per-student cost of delivering the programme. In exchange, students at private nursing schools often benefit from more consistent access to clinical placement within the hospital the school is attached to, since the training facility and the teaching hospital are typically under the same management.
What the Fees Cover
Tuition at private nursing schools in Kaduna State is structured to cover the core requirements of nursing and midwifery training, including:
- Classroom instruction and course registration
- Clinical and practical training within the attached hospital
- Laboratory and skills-demonstration sessions
- Examination processing, including internal and NMCN qualifying exams
- Library and study resource access
- Basic administrative and student support services
Additional charges outside the core tuition figure typically apply for uniforms, clinical tools, textbooks, hostel accommodation, identity card processing, and medical screening for new students. These are billed separately from tuition and should be budgeted for on top of the amounts listed above.
Admission Requirements for Private Nursing Schools in Kaduna State
Admission into a private nursing school in Kaduna State generally follows the same baseline requirements applied across most nursing schools in Nigeria, with each institution able to set its own additional screening process:
- O’level Requirements — a minimum of five credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- UTME Participation — candidates are generally expected to have sat for the JAMB UTME and meet the minimum score set for nursing programmes, since most nursing schools now require a valid UTME registration as part of the admission process.
- Age Requirement — candidates are typically expected to be within an accepted age range at the point of admission, as stipulated by NMCN guidelines.
- Screening Exercise — most private schools conduct their own entrance examination or interview after an application is submitted, in addition to any UTME requirement.
Candidates should confirm the exact combination of requirements with their chosen school directly, since private institutions can adjust their screening process from one admission cycle to the next.
How to Apply and Pay Fees
The application and payment process at private nursing schools in Kaduna State typically follows a similar pattern across institutions:
- Obtain the school’s application form, either online through the school’s admission portal or in person at the school’s administrative office.
- Submit the completed form along with the required credentials — O’level results, birth certificate, and passport photographs.
- Sit for the school’s entrance screening exercise or interview where applicable.
- Receive an admission offer and pay the acceptance fee to confirm the offered slot.
- Complete tuition payment before resumption, following the payment instructions issued by the school’s bursary or admissions office.
Because private nursing schools in Kaduna State are smaller and more directly managed than large government institutions, payment is sometimes handled through direct bank transfer or a designated collection account rather than a centralized online portal, so applicants should always confirm the correct payment channel before making any transfer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are private nursing schools in Kaduna State more expensive than government ones?
Yes. Private nursing schools generally charge higher tuition than state-run institutions like the Kaduna State College of Nursing and Midwifery, since they do not receive government subvention.
Is a certificate from a private nursing school in Kaduna valid for professional practice?
Yes, provided the school holds current accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Candidates should confirm a school’s accreditation status before applying.
Do private nursing schools in Kaduna State require UTME?
Most require candidates to have sat for the UTME and meet the applicable minimum score, in addition to the school’s own entrance screening or interview.
Can students access post-basic nursing programmes at private schools in Kaduna State?
Yes. Schools such as St. Gerard’s Catholic Hospital and St. Louis College of Nursing Sciences offer post-basic programmes for candidates who already hold a basic nursing or midwifery qualification.
Where can students confirm the exact current fees for a specific private nursing school?
Exact, up-to-date fee figures should be confirmed directly from the school’s admissions or bursary office, since private institutions can adjust fees between sessions and often do not publish a single fixed figure for every programme.