Nursing education in Jigawa State runs mainly through one government-established institution, but a handful of newer, privately established colleges of nursing sciences have also received accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) in recent years. This article explains what currently exists in the state, what separates a private nursing college from a government one in this context, and what a prospective student should expect to pay and prepare for going into the 2026/2027 academic session.
Nursing training in Nigeria follows a different accreditation path from ordinary university or polytechnic education. Every school that wants to train students toward becoming a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM) must first pass inspection and receive either provisional or full accreditation from the NMCN, in addition to any approval from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) if the school also runs ND/HND-style nursing programmes. This detail matters because it directly affects how new, smaller, or privately funded nursing colleges appear and operate in a state like Jigawa.
The State of Nursing Education in Jigawa
The dominant nursing training body in Jigawa State is the Jigawa State College of Nursing Sciences, a government-owned institution with three campuses: Birnin Kudu (the original site, established in 1996), Hadejia, and Babura. All three campuses run ND and HND nursing programmes with National Board for Technical Education approval, alongside NMCN accreditation for Basic Nursing and Midwifery training. Because this institution is state-funded, its tuition sits far below what a privately owned nursing college typically charges, and it remains the first choice for most Jigawa indigenes who want to study nursing within the state.
Alongside this state college, the NMCN’s official accreditation register also lists a small number of independently established colleges of nursing sciences operating in Jigawa State. These are the closest match to what most people mean when they search for “private nursing schools” in the state, since they operate outside direct government funding and management.
Privately Established Nursing Colleges Recognised in Jigawa State
As of the most recent NMCN accreditation update, the following privately founded nursing training institutions appear on the council’s approved list for Jigawa State:
| Institution | Location | Accreditation Status |
|---|---|---|
| Iqra College of Nursing Sciences | Dutse | Provisional (Nursing and Midwifery programmes) |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Kazaure | Kazaure | Provisional (Nursing and Midwifery programmes) |
| Ameenatu College of Nursing Sciences | Jigawa State | Provisional (Nursing and Midwifery programmes) |
| Belba College of Nursing Sciences | Jigawa State | Provisional (Nursing and Midwifery programmes) |
All four currently hold provisional rather than full accreditation status, which is standard for newly established nursing colleges. Provisional accreditation runs for two years at a time and allows a school to admit and train students while the NMCN continues to assess its facilities, staffing, and clinical placement arrangements before granting full accreditation, which lasts five years once awarded.
It is worth noting that a fifth institution, Khadija University in Majia, Taura Local Government Area, once stood as Jigawa State’s pioneer private university and had a nursing science department in the accreditation pipeline. However, the Jigawa State Government recently took over the university, converting it from a privately owned institution into a fully public one. This means Khadija University’s nursing programme, once it clears accreditation, will run as a public university department rather than a private one, so it no longer fits under the “private nursing school” category for anyone researching options in the state today.
Why Fee Schedules for These Private Colleges Are Hard to Pin Down
Unlike public tertiary institutions in Nigeria, which typically publish a fixed, government-approved fee schedule that changes only occasionally, small privately owned nursing colleges set and adjust their own fees independently, and many do not publish a detailed, itemised fee breakdown on a public website. This is common across newer private nursing colleges throughout northern Nigeria, not just in Jigawa. A school with provisional accreditation is often still finalising its administrative structure, including formal fee publication, and may adjust its charges from one admission cycle to the next based on enrolment numbers and available funding.
For context, private nursing colleges in neighbouring northern states with a similar profile and accreditation history typically charge tuition somewhere between ₦250,000 and ₦450,000 per academic year, with additional charges for acceptance, accommodation, uniforms, and clinical practicum materials on top of that base tuition. This range gives a realistic sense of what to budget for, but it should not be treated as an exact figure for any specific Jigawa institution, since none of the four privately founded colleges listed above has a verified, publicly confirmed fee schedule at the time of writing. Applicants should treat any fee figure circulating on unofficial channels with caution and confirm directly with the school’s admissions or bursary office before making any payment.
Admission Requirements Common to Nursing Colleges in Jigawa State
Regardless of whether a nursing college in Jigawa is government-run or privately established, admission requirements follow the same broad framework set by the NMCN and NBTE nationwide:
- A minimum of five credit passes at O-level (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB), including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- A UTME registration with JAMB, with a subject combination matching the science requirements above. Most nursing colleges in the state ask for a minimum aggregate score between 150 and 160, though this figure can shift slightly from year to year based on JAMB’s overall cut-off policy.
- A post-UTME or entrance screening exercise conducted by the individual college, which may include a written test, an interview, or both.
- Candidates applying for the Midwifery programme specifically must be female, in line with NMCN’s programme-specific eligibility rule.
Private colleges sometimes add their own supplementary requirements, such as a medical fitness report or a minimum age at the point of admission, so applicants should check the specific school’s admission notice before applying.
Programme Duration and Structure
Basic Nursing programmes in Nigeria run for three academic years, after which graduates sit for NMCN’s licensing examination to become Registered Nurses. Basic Midwifery programmes follow a similar three-year structure for candidates entering directly, while post-basic midwifery programmes, open only to already-registered nurses, typically run for a shorter, more condensed period. Where a nursing college also holds NBTE approval, as the Jigawa State College of Nursing Sciences does, students may additionally pursue an ND or HND nursing qualification alongside or instead of the RN/RM route, depending on which programme the specific campus offers.
What to Expect Beyond Tuition
Every nursing college, private or public, charges a set of standard fees beyond core tuition. These typically include:
- An acceptance fee, paid once upon confirmation of admission.
- A caution or development fee, often refundable or semi-refundable depending on the institution’s policy.
- Uniform and clinical kit charges, which cover the nursing uniforms, badges, and basic equipment students use during ward postings.
- Hostel accommodation fees, for students who choose to live on campus rather than commute or find private lodging nearby.
- Examination and registration fees tied to NMCN licensing exams in the final year of study.
These additional charges can add a meaningful amount to the total cost of a nursing education, so prospective students should ask for a full, itemised breakdown rather than relying on the headline tuition figure alone.
How to Verify Current Fees Before Applying
Given how quickly small private institutions can revise their charges, the safest way to confirm current fees for any of the privately established nursing colleges in Jigawa State is to:
- Visit the school’s own admission portal or physical bursary office, where available.
- Call the phone contacts listed on the school’s official admission notice rather than relying on third-party numbers shared on social media.
- Cross-check any fee figure against the school’s most recent JAMB brochure entry, since institutions are required to submit updated fee information as part of their annual JAMB listing.
- Avoid paying any money to unofficial “admission agents,” a caution several Nigerian nursing colleges explicitly repeat in their own admission notices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Jigawa State College of Nursing Sciences a private or government institution?
It is a government-owned institution, funded and managed by the Jigawa State Government, with campuses in Birnin Kudu, Hadejia, and Babura.
Are there any fully private nursing colleges currently accredited in Jigawa State?
Yes. Iqra College of Nursing Sciences in Dutse, College of Nursing Sciences in Kazaure, Ameenatu College of Nursing Sciences, and Belba College of Nursing Sciences all appear on the NMCN’s accreditation list for Jigawa State, currently holding provisional accreditation status.
How much do private nursing schools in Jigawa State charge?
No verified, publicly published fee schedule currently exists for the private colleges listed above. Similar private nursing colleges in the wider northern Nigeria region typically charge between ₦250,000 and ₦450,000 per year, which gives a rough sense of scale, but applicants should confirm the exact figure directly with the specific school.
What is the minimum UTME score needed for admission into a nursing college in Jigawa State?
Most nursing colleges in the state, both public and private, set their minimum aggregate score somewhere between 150 and 160, alongside the standard five-credit O-level requirement including the core science subjects.
Can male candidates apply for the Midwifery programme?
No. NMCN restricts admission into Midwifery programmes to female candidates only. Male candidates interested in nursing training should apply for the Basic Nursing programme instead.