The National Open University of Nigeria has placed itself at the centre of Nigeria’s healthcare education conversation after claiming that it has trained more than 65 percent of nurses with first degrees in the country.

The claim was made by NOUN Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Uduma Oji Uduma, during the inauguration of the university’s Emergency Health Centre at its Model Study Centre in Dutse-Alhaji, Abuja. According to NOUN’s official report, Uduma said the figure was recently confirmed to the university’s management by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

The statement has since drawn attention because of what it suggests about the scale of NOUN’s contribution to Nigeria’s nursing workforce, especially at a time when the country is facing rising demand for qualified healthcare professionals and continued migration of nurses abroad.

What NOUN Actually Claimed

The key detail in the report is that NOUN did not simply claim to have trained 65 percent of all nurses in Nigeria. The more precise claim is that the university has trained over 65 percent of nurses with first degrees in Nigeria.

That distinction matters. Nigeria’s nursing workforce includes nurses trained through schools of nursing, colleges of nursing sciences, post-basic programmes, and university departments. NOUN’s claim is narrower because it focuses on nurses who hold first degrees, particularly those who have gone through degree-upgrade pathways.

Why the Claim Matters for Nigeria’s Health Sector

Nigeria has long struggled with gaps in healthcare staffing, especially in rural communities and underserved regions. The challenge has become more urgent as more Nigerian-trained nurses seek opportunities abroad, driven by better pay, improved working conditions, and stronger career prospects.

In this context, NOUN’s role is important because the university operates through an open and distance learning model. This allows working professionals, including already licensed nurses, to pursue higher qualifications without leaving their jobs completely.

NOUN’s Bachelor of Nursing Science programme is designed mainly for registered nurses who want to upgrade their qualifications to degree level. The Faculty of Health Sciences states that applicants must already possess relevant nursing qualifications, including Registered Nurse certification and a valid practice licence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

That structure helps explain how NOUN could have a large share of Nigeria’s graduate nurses. It is not necessarily producing nurses from scratch in the same way as traditional nursing schools. Instead, it provides a major academic pathway for already trained and licensed nurses seeking first degrees.

Is NOUN’s Nursing Programme Accredited?

Available evidence shows that NOUN’s nursing programme has regulatory backing. NOUN’s published accreditation document lists B.NSc Nursing Science under the Faculty of Health Sciences with full accreditation from the National Universities Commission.

NOUN’s own news platform also reported that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria granted full accreditation to its Bachelor of Nursing Science programme in 2021.

This is important because nursing education in Nigeria is tightly regulated. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is responsible for regulating nursing and midwifery education and practice in the country. Its approved-schools page also confirms that Nigeria has multiple approved nursing training institutions, including departments of nursing sciences, schools of nursing, midwifery schools and post-basic nursing institutions.

What Still Needs Independent Verification

While the claim is credible enough to report as a statement from the NOUN Vice-Chancellor, it should not be presented as an independently verified national statistic unless the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria publicly releases the underlying data.

The available public reports attribute the 65 percent figure to NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor, who said the number was confirmed by the nursing council. However, publicly accessible NMCN records reviewed do not appear to publish a separate national statistical breakdown showing that NOUN accounts for more than 65 percent of Nigeria’s degree-holding nurses.

That does not mean the claim is false. It means the safest newsroom treatment is to attribute it clearly and avoid overstating it.

A stronger version of the claim would read: NOUN says it has trained over 65 percent of Nigeria’s nurses with first degrees, citing confirmation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

NOUN’s Emergency Health Centre and Wider Healthcare Push

The claim was made as NOUN inaugurated the first phase of its Emergency Health Centre project. According to reports, the initiative is aimed at improving access to first aid and emergency healthcare support across the university’s study centres.

The university also disclosed plans to engage volunteer nurses and train staff in emergency response in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross. This gives the announcement a broader institutional context. NOUN is not only positioning itself as a major producer of degree-holding nurses, but also as a university seeking to strengthen health and safety systems across its learning centres.

For a distance-learning institution with students spread across the country, emergency response capacity is a practical issue. Study centres serve as physical contact points for students, staff, and visitors. Establishing emergency health units could help improve basic medical response within those centres.

Why This Could Shape Nursing Education in Nigeria

NOUN’s model points to a larger trend in professional education. As Nigeria’s healthcare needs expand, more nurses may need flexible routes to upgrade their qualifications without leaving the workforce.

Traditional universities remain important, but they may not be able to absorb all working professionals seeking degree-level training. Open and distance learning could help close that gap, especially for nurses outside major cities.

However, quality assurance will remain critical. Nursing is a sensitive profession where academic training must align with clinical competence, professional ethics, and regulatory standards. That is why accreditation by the NUC and NMCN remains central to public

FAQs

Did NOUN say it trained 65 percent of all nurses in Nigeria?

No. The more accurate claim is that NOUN says it has trained over 65 percent of nurses with first degrees in Nigeria. This is different from saying it trained 65 percent of all nurses in the country.

Is NOUN’s nursing programme accredited?

Yes. NOUN’s published accreditation status lists B.NSc Nursing Science as fully accredited by the National Universities Commission. NOUN has also reported full accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria for its BNSc programme.

Can anyone apply for NOUN’s nursing degree?

No. NOUN’s nursing degree is mainly for already qualified nurses. Applicants are expected to have relevant nursing qualifications, including Registered Nurse certification and a valid practice licence from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Is the 65 percent figure independently verified?

The figure has been reported as a claim by NOUN’s Vice-Chancellor, who said it was confirmed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. However, publicly available NMCN data reviewed does not show a separate statistical table confirming the 65 percent figure.

Why is NOUN important to nursing education in Nigeria?

NOUN offers a flexible learning route for working nurses who want to upgrade their qualifications to degree level. This makes it important in a country where many healthcare professionals need further education without leaving active service.