Ebonyi State hosts a mix of federal, state, and privately owned institutions that train nurses, but this article focuses specifically on the private options. A private nursing school in Ebonyi State refers to any nursing training institution owned by a religious mission, a private individual, or a private organization rather than the federal or state government. These schools run either the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) diploma pathway — National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nursing and Midwifery — or, in the case of a private university, the five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) degree. This article covers the private nursing schools operating in Ebonyi State, what each one offers, and how their fees are structured, so a prospective applicant knows what to expect financially before applying.
Private Nursing Schools Currently Operating in Ebonyi State
Four private institutions currently offer nursing training in Ebonyi State, spread across different local government areas. Each has its own ownership structure, entry route, and certification pathway.
| Institution | Location (LGA) | Ownership | Programme Offered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mater Misericordiae College of Nursing Sciences (CONSAF) | Afikpo North | Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki | 3-year General Nursing; Post-Basic Nursing/Midwifery |
| Royal College of Nursing Sciences, Ezzangbo | Ohaukwu | Private proprietor | ND/HND Nursing and Midwifery |
| Blessed Martins College of Nursing Sciences | Ikwo | Private proprietor | ND/HND Nursing |
| Evangel University, Akaeze | Ivo | Assemblies of God, Nigeria (private Christian university) | B.N.Sc. Nursing Science (5-year degree) |
Each of these institutions is distinct from the government-run options in the state, which include Ebonyi State University’s Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Ebonyi State College of Nursing and Midwifery in Uburu, and Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital’s nursing training programme. A student choosing between the public and private route should weigh cost against factors like class size, admission competitiveness, and how quickly a seat becomes available.
Mater Misericordiae College of Nursing Sciences, Afikpo
This college, commonly referred to by its acronym CONSAF, is one of the oldest nursing training institutions in the state, tracing its origin back to 1952 when it began as a hospital-based training school attached to Mater Misericordiae Hospital. It is owned and run by the Catholic Diocese of Abakaliki and is located in the New Site area of Afikpo North Local Government Area. The college runs a three-year General Nursing programme for direct entry candidates and an 18-month to two-year Post-Basic programme for registered nurses who want to add a midwifery qualification.
Entry requires five O’level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings through WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB. Because the college draws candidates through JAMB for its diploma-aligned entries, applicants are also expected to select it as their institution of choice on the JAMB portal or apply for a change of institution where necessary.
On fees, the application/screening cost for a recent admission cycle stood at thirty thousand naira, paid into the college’s account before the post-UTME screening test. This form fee is separate from the full school fee, which covers tuition, hostel accommodation, uniforms, clinical practicals, and administrative charges, and which is only disclosed to candidates after they scale the entrance screening. Since CONSAF operates a boarding system, accommodation is built into the overall cost rather than treated as an optional extra, and students should expect additional charges for uniforms, medical fitness tests, and immunization before clinical postings begin.
Royal College of Nursing Sciences, Ezzangbo
Royal College of Nursing Sciences sits in Umuagara, Ezzangbo, within Ohaukwu Local Government Area. It is a newer private institution compared to CONSAF, having held its maiden matriculation only in recent years, but it has already secured NMCN accreditation to run both ND and HND Nursing and Midwifery programmes. The college structures its training over four years in total, with graduates earning HND-level qualification along with dual licensing in Nursing (RN) and Midwifery (RM), and it also mobilizes its graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on completion.
Admission into Royal College requires a UTME score of 150 and above, together with five O’level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics at not more than two sittings. Applicants apply either online through the college’s application portal or by purchasing a hardcopy form from the Registrar’s office. The application fee for a recent session was twenty-six thousand five hundred naira, generated and paid through a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) either online or at any commercial bank.
As with most private nursing colleges, the full tuition and accommodation fee is communicated to candidates only after they are offered admission, since fee schedules can shift slightly from one session to another. Applicants should budget beyond tuition alone, since ND and HND Nursing programmes typically carry laboratory, clinical practical, and uniform charges on top of the base tuition figure.
Blessed Martins College of Nursing Sciences, Ikwo
Blessed Martins College of Nursing Sciences is located in Ohatekwe, Angagu, within Ikwo Local Government Area. It is one of the newest private entrants into nursing education in Ebonyi State and holds full NMCN accreditation for its ND and HND Nursing programmes. Its position within the Ikwo axis makes it a practical option for candidates who reside in that part of the state and prefer to train closer to home rather than commute to Abakaliki or Afikpo.
Entry requirements follow the standard pattern applied across NMCN-accredited diploma colleges: five O’level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with a JAMB registration and score that meets the college’s cut-off for the session. Because it is a smaller and newer institution, class sizes tend to be more compact than at older colleges, which some applicants prefer for closer supervision during clinical training. Fee details, like at the other diploma colleges, are released to successful candidates per admission cohort rather than published as a fixed public rate, since costs are reviewed to reflect the operating needs of each session.
Evangel University, Akaeze
Evangel University is the only private university in Ebonyi State offering a full Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) degree rather than a diploma-level nursing certificate. It is owned by the Assemblies of God, Nigeria, and is located in Akaeze. The Department of Nursing Sciences sits within the university’s College of Health Sciences and is fully accredited by the NMCN, allowing graduates to sit for the nursing licensing examination on completion of the five-year programme.
Admission into the B.N.Sc. programme requires five O’level credit passes including English Language and Mathematics, a UTME score meeting the university’s cut-off, and successful participation in the university’s post-UTME screening. Direct entry is also open to candidates holding an Upper Credit in a relevant ND, NCE, or HND qualification, or two relevant A-Level passes, subject to the university’s internal screening.
Evangel University publishes its fee structure more openly than the diploma colleges, since it runs on a semester-based university fee model. For health science courses — which include Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Microbiology, and Pharmacology — students affiliated with the Assemblies of God (AG students) pay a total school fee of three hundred and sixty-one thousand eight hundred naira (₦361,800) per session, while non-AG students pay four hundred thousand naira (₦400,000) per session. This figure covers tuition, registration, library access, ICT charges, and hostel accommodation, since the university operates a mandatory boarding policy and folds accommodation into the overall school fee rather than billing it separately.
Beyond the session fee, fresh students are required to pay an admission form fee of two thousand naira, an acceptance fee of fifty thousand naira payable only in the first year, and an accreditation fee of thirty thousand naira paid once during the course of study. A professional accreditation fee also applies specifically to health science students, reflecting the additional regulatory registration nursing and allied health programmes require. Late payment of school fees attracts a penalty, so students are expected to complete payment within the deadline stated for each session.
Comparing Costs Across the Private Options
The clearest cost distinction in Ebonyi State’s private nursing space is between the diploma colleges (CONSAF, Royal College, Blessed Martins) and the university degree route (Evangel University). The diploma colleges keep their full fee structures private until after admission, releasing figures only to successful candidates per cohort, which makes it difficult to give a fixed comparative figure for them. Evangel University, being a full-fledged private university, discloses its fee bracket more transparently as part of its standard admission communication.
As a general pattern across Nigerian private nursing training, diploma-level colleges tend to charge less per session than a full private university running a five-year B.N.Sc. programme, since the university route includes broader general education requirements, a longer duration, and additional degree-level accreditation costs. However, the exact gap depends on what each diploma college charges for hostel accommodation, clinical practicals, and uniforms, all of which add meaningfully to the base tuition figure.
What Determines the Final Fee at Any Private Nursing School
A few consistent factors shape how much a student ultimately pays at any of these institutions, regardless of which one is chosen:
- Programme level — ND, HND, Post-Basic, and B.N.Sc. programmes are priced differently, with degree-level training generally costing more per session than diploma-level training.
- AG or church affiliation — at faith-based institutions like Evangel University, students affiliated with the owning denomination often pay a reduced rate compared to non-affiliated students.
- Accommodation policy — colleges that mandate boarding fold hostel costs into the total fee, while others may allow off-campus residence, changing the total amount payable.
- Clinical and practical charges — nursing training involves hands-on ward exposure, so uniforms, clinical consumables, and immunization or medical fitness costs are added on top of tuition.
- New versus returning student status — acceptance fees and some administrative charges apply only to first-year students, so returning students typically pay less than fresh admits in a given session.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which private nursing schools operate in Ebonyi State?
Four private institutions currently run nursing training in the state: Mater Misericordiae College of Nursing Sciences (CONSAF) in Afikpo, Royal College of Nursing Sciences in Ezzangbo, Blessed Martins College of Nursing Sciences in Ikwo, and Evangel University in Akaeze.
Is Evangel University’s nursing programme a diploma or a degree?
It is a degree programme. Evangel University runs a five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.), unlike the other three institutions, which run ND, HND, and Post-Basic diploma-level programmes.
How much does Evangel University charge for nursing per session?
AG-affiliated students pay ₦361,800 per session, while non-AG students pay ₦400,000, covering tuition, hostel accommodation, and administrative charges.
Do the diploma colleges publish their full fee schedule before admission?
No. CONSAF, Royal College, and Blessed Martins typically disclose the full tuition and accommodation fee only after a candidate is offered admission, though their application/screening fees are published upfront.
Is JAMB required to apply to these private nursing schools?
Yes, for the ND/HND-aligned diploma colleges and for Evangel University’s B.N.Sc. programme, a valid UTME registration and a qualifying score are generally required alongside the standard five O’level credits.