The Ogun State Government has sealed an unapproved nursing institution operating in Ifo Local Government Area for conducting academic programmes without accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
The clampdown followed a joint monitoring exercise carried out by officials of the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee under the Ministry of Health.
Chairman of the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee and Acting Director of Nursing Services at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Serifat Aminu, explained that the action was taken in line with directives from the Honourable Commissioner for Health and the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr. Ndagi Al Hassan.
According to her, the government’s attention was first drawn to the illegal operation through a post on the Ogun State Government’s official X handle.
This was swiftly followed by a whistleblower’s email to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, which was relayed to state authorities within two hours.
Acting on the tip-off, a monitoring team made up of Ministry officials and members of the State Nursing and Midwifery Committee moved to investigate a facility identified as ‘Universal Public Health Science’ in Ifo.
Aminu disclosed that the centre was running programmes in Community Health, Public Health, and Nursing without the required approval, stressing that only the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has the statutory mandate to regulate nursing education nationwide.
She further described the learning environment as grossly inadequate, noting that a three-bedroom apartment was being used as the administrative block, while makeshift lecture rooms operated from shop spaces fitted with old wooden benches.
She said, “The owner, Mr. Elugbadebo Damilola Peter, did not deny running the programmes, but there is no accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, and the Ministry of Health has no record of such approval.”
“You cannot train future healthcare professionals in substandard conditions and expect safe outcomes; beyond endangering public health, students risk wasting years and scarce resources on certificates that will not be recognised, ultimately worsening the burden of quackery in the State,” she added.
The Acting Director emphasised the need for vigilance among parents and prospective students, urging them to verify the accreditation status of any health training institution with both the Ministry of Health and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria before securing admission.
She maintained that while establishing educational institutions is legitimate, it must follow due process, including consultation with the Ministry and relevant regulatory bodies, obtaining proper accreditation, and ensuring the production of qualified professionals.
