Ekiti State runs both government-owned and privately owned nursing training pathways, but this article isolates the private options for anyone specifically searching for a private nursing school in Ekiti State and how much it costs to train there. Nursing training in Nigeria follows two broad routes: a diploma-level Registered Nurse (RN) certification through NMCN-accredited schools of nursing, or a five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) degree through a university. In Ekiti State, the private route is dominated almost entirely by one institution — Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti — which is the only fully private university in the state offering an accredited nursing programme at degree level. This article explains what that institution offers, breaks down its fee structure by level, and clarifies how it compares to the state-run alternatives students often confuse it with.
Why Afe Babalola University Stands Out as the Private Option
Ekiti State has seven universities in total, made up of federal, state, and private institutions, but Afe Babalola University (commonly called ABUAD) remains the sole fully private university in the state with an NMCN-accredited nursing programme. Founded in 2009 by legal icon Aare Afe Babalola, the university sits in Ado-Ekiti and runs a collegiate system spanning six colleges, one of which is the College of Medicine and Health Sciences, the home of the Department of Nursing Science.
Other nursing training bodies that appear in searches about Ekiti State — such as the School of Nursing attached to Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), the School of Post Basic Midwifery in Ado-Ekiti, and Ekiti State University’s own B.N.Sc. programme — are all government-affiliated, not private. A prospective student searching specifically for a private nursing school in Ekiti State should understand that ABUAD is currently the primary, and effectively only, private nursing training option physically based in the state.
What the ABUAD Nursing Programme Involves
The Nursing Science programme at ABUAD runs for five years, in line with the standard B.N.Sc. structure used across Nigerian universities, and leads to a bachelor’s degree that qualifies graduates to sit for the licensing examination administered by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. Students train within the university’s College of Medicine and Health Sciences and gain clinical exposure at Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital, a 400-bed multi-specialty hospital located on the university’s Ado-Ekiti campus, commissioned in 2017 to serve as the clinical training base for ABUAD’s health science students.
Admission into the programme follows the standard university route. Candidates need a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including Mathematics and English Language, obtained through WAEC, NECO, or GCE in not more than two sittings. A UTME score that meets ABUAD’s general cut-off, typically around 180, is required, and applicants must select ABUAD as their first-choice institution on the JAMB portal. Candidates then proceed through the university’s post-UTME screening and must meet the departmental cut-off specific to nursing, since competitive courses like Nursing, Medicine, and Pharmacy tend to require higher screening scores than less competitive departments. Direct entry candidates with an Upper Credit or its equivalent from an accredited institution can gain admission into 200 level, though they pay the same fees as fresh 100-level students.
ABUAD Nursing Tuition Fees by Level
ABUAD publishes tuition figures per level rather than charging one flat rate across all five years, since fees generally taper slightly after the first year. The table below sets out the tuition fee for the Nursing Science programme by level for a recent academic session.
| Level | Tuition Fee (₦) |
|---|---|
| 100 Level | 1,355,000 |
| 200 Level | 1,036,000 |
| 300 Level | 1,036,000 |
| 400 Level | 1,036,000 |
| 500 Level | 886,000 |
The 100-level fee is the highest of the five years, largely because fresh students absorb a cluster of one-time charges — admission-related items, orientation materials, and starter kits — that returning students do not pay again in subsequent sessions. From 200 level through 400 level, tuition holds steady, before dropping slightly in the final year.
Additional Compulsory Charges Beyond Tuition
Tuition is only one part of what a nursing student pays at ABUAD. The university itemizes a set of additional compulsory fees that apply either once (mainly to fresh students) or every session (to all students regardless of level). These cover practical needs specific to a health science programme, along with general university administrative charges.
The table below lists these additional charges and clarifies which level they apply to.
| Fee | Amount (₦) | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Acceptance Fee | 100,000 | 100 Level only, one-time |
| Development Levy | 30,000 | All levels, every session |
| ICT Fee | 30,000 | All levels, every session |
| Library Fee | 10,000 | All levels, every session |
| ID Card | 6,000 | All levels, every session |
| Medical Fee | 50,000 | All levels, every session |
| Sports Fee | 20,000 | All levels, every session |
| O’Level Verification | 7,500 | 100 Level only, one-time |
| Institutional Requirements | 40,000 | All levels, every session |
| Course Registration Fee | 10,000 | All levels, every session |
| Lab Coat | 10,000 | 100 Level only, one-time |
| Student Handbook | 500 | 100 Level only, one-time |
| Matriculation Gown (Rental) | 10,000 | 100 Level only, one-time |
| Mattress and Pillow | 18,000 | 100 Level only, one-time |
| Hostel Accommodation (4-Man Room) | 200,000 | Optional, other room types priced differently |
Adding these figures to the tuition fee gives a realistic picture of what a fresh 100-level nursing student pays in total for their first session, once one-time charges, recurring administrative fees, and accommodation are all factored in. From 200 level onward, the total drops noticeably, since most of the one-time fresh-student charges fall away and only tuition plus the recurring administrative fees remain.
Accommodation Is Compulsory, Not Optional
ABUAD operates a fully residential system, meaning every student, including those in the Nursing Science department, is required to live on campus. Off-campus residence and day-student status are not permitted. Hostel accommodation is billed separately from tuition, and the amount varies depending on room type, ranging from shared multi-person rooms on the lower end to higher-end single-occupancy rooms on the upper end. A four-person room, as shown in the table above, sits toward the lower end of the accommodation pricing scale, while private or “deluxe” room categories cost considerably more per session. Students should factor this into their total budget rather than assuming tuition alone represents their full financial commitment.
How Fees Are Paid at ABUAD
Payment at ABUAD happens entirely through the university’s online student portal rather than through walk-in payment at the bursary. A newly admitted student logs into the portal, generates an invoice for whichever fee category applies — acceptance fee, tuition, or accommodation — and receives a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) number. Payment is then made either online through Quickteller or at any commercial bank using the PayDirect channel referencing that RRR. Once payment clears, the student confirms it on the portal and prints a receipt or confirmation slip as proof.
Each fee category carries its own timeline. The acceptance fee is expected almost immediately after an admission offer is made, since delaying it risks losing the admission slot to another candidate. Tuition is expected at the start of each academic session, and non-payment restricts access to academic activities, course registration, and examination results. Hostel accommodation fees must be settled before resumption or hostel check-in, or the student risks losing their room reservation.
Financial Aid Options for Nursing Students at ABUAD
Given how much tuition and other charges add up to at a private university, ABUAD runs several scholarship and financial aid channels open to nursing students. These include a merit scholarship awarded based on strong entrance exam performance, a need-based scholarship for students demonstrating financial hardship through submitted documentation, a sports scholarship for students actively involved in university athletics, and an alumni-linked scholarship for students whose parents attended the university. The university also runs a student loan programme for students requiring additional financial support beyond what scholarships cover. Interested students typically apply for these during the admission process or shortly after resumption, submitting the required academic or financial documentation as specified for each scheme.
How ABUAD Nursing Fees Compare to Government-Run Options in Ekiti State
Government-run nursing training in Ekiti State — including Ekiti State University’s B.N.Sc. programme and the diploma-level schools of nursing affiliated with the state’s teaching hospitals — costs considerably less per session than ABUAD’s fee structure. This price gap is standard across Nigeria’s private-versus-public university landscape, not unique to nursing or to Ekiti State specifically. What a student gains at the private option is a fully residential, well-resourced campus with independent power supply, a dedicated teaching hospital physically on campus, and generally smaller class sizes, while a government-run programme offers a lower-cost path to the same RN or B.N.Sc. qualification, often with a longer or more competitive admission queue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Afe Babalola University the only private nursing school in Ekiti State?
Yes, effectively so. ABUAD is currently the only fully private university in Ekiti State running an NMCN-accredited nursing programme; other nursing training bodies in the state, such as EKSUTH’s School of Nursing and Ekiti State University’s B.N.Sc. programme, are government-affiliated rather than private.
How much does ABUAD charge for nursing tuition in the first year?
Tuition for 100 Level Nursing Science stands at ₦1,355,000, though this figure excludes acceptance fees, hostel accommodation, and other compulsory one-time charges for fresh students.
Is accommodation included in ABUAD’s nursing school fees?
No. Accommodation is billed separately from tuition, though it is compulsory since ABUAD does not permit off-campus or day-student status.
Does ABUAD offer scholarships for nursing students?
Yes. The university runs merit-based, need-based, sports, alumni-linked, and loan-based financial aid options that nursing students can apply for.
What is the minimum JAMB score needed for nursing at ABUAD?
ABUAD’s general cut-off is typically around 180, though the Nursing department’s specific post-UTME cut-off may be set higher given the programme’s competitiveness, so applicants should confirm the current session’s departmental cut-off directly with the university.