The health of a nation depends heavily on the competence of its caregivers. In Nigeria, the practice of nursing and midwifery is governed and regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). This statutory body ensures that every nurse and midwife attending to a patient has met rigorous educational and ethical standards.
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Key takeaways
- The NMCN is the only legal body charged with administering Nursing and Midwifery education and practice in Nigeria.
- It operates under the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Act, which provides the legal framework for its regulatory powers.
- The council is responsible for everything from student registration to the prosecution of illegal practitioners.
Overview of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) is the official regulatory body responsible for overseeing all nursing and midwifery practices in Nigeria. The history of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria dates back to the colonial era:
- In 1930, the Midwives Board was established through the Midwives Ordinance to regulate midwifery training and practice.
- In 1947, the Nursing Council of Nigeria was formed following the Registration of Nurses Ordinance.
- In 1979, both bodies merged under Decree 89 to form a unified council.
- By 2004, the council became a government parastatal under federal authority.
Today, NMCN is one of the most influential healthcare regulatory bodies, ensuring safe and effective nursing care nationwide.
What is the major function of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria?
The council’s core responsibility is to ensure high standards in nursing education and practice. Below are the other major functions:
- Registers all nursing and midwifery students at the beginning of their training.
- Develops and periodically reviews curricula used in educating all categories of nurses and midwives.
- Collaborates with recognised organisations (e.g., National Universities Commission, World Health Organisation) to support basic and post-basic education programmes.
- Accredits training institutions and clinical practice sites used for nursing and midwifery education.
- Conducts professional examinations for all categories of nurses and midwives.
- Maintains an official register of all qualified nursing and midwifery practitioners in Nigeria.
- Conducts registration interviews for nurses and midwives trained outside Nigeria who wish to practice in the country.
- Issues and renews professional practising licenses every three years for qualified practitioners.
- Awards professional certificates to nurses and midwives upon completion of their training.
- Has the authority to revoke or restore professional certificates when necessary.
- Sets and maintains standards of knowledge and competence in nursing and midwifery education and practice.
- Organises and conducts mandatory continuing professional development programmes for all cadres.
- Promotes and carries out research in relevant areas of nursing and midwifery.
- Ensures discipline within the profession through the Nurses and Midwives Tribunal.
- Takes action against illegal training institutions.
- Regulates and oversees nursing and midwifery practice in all aspects.
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What is the latest news from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria?
As per the current Nursing Council updates, it has approved selected Schools of Nursing to run refresher course programmes for previously eliminated candidates. This decision follows an assessment exercise carried out to confirm that the institutions are adequately prepared to offer the programme.
Additionally, the Council has released an updated list of approved training institutions nationwide. These include Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing, as well as university Departments of Nursing, along with their accreditation status and student admission quotas on a state-by-state basis.
Currently, about 400 nursing and midwifery training institutions in Nigeria have received official approval from the Council.
What are the 4 key principles of NMC?
The four key principles generally include:
- Prioritising patient care
- Practicing effectively
- Preserving safety
- Promoting professionalism and trust
What is the main function of the SANC?
The South African Nursing Council performs similar roles in South Africa, regulating nursing education, licensing practitioners, and maintaining professional standards.
What are the 7 P’s of nursing?
The 7 P’s of nursing commonly refer to:
- Patient-centered care
- Professionalism
- Practice
- Protection
- Prevention
- Partnership
- Performance
Why is the structure and direction of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria important?
It ensures that nursing and midwifery training, licensing, and practice are properly regulated, helping to maintain high standards of healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Which schools are Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria-accredited?
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has assessed several institutions across the country and granted them provisional approval to admit students. These schools were visited in an advisory capacity to evaluate their facilities and readiness to offer nursing programmes.
Although they are not yet fully accredited, the institutions have been permitted to admit students annually, subject to their available resources and approved admission quotas. At the same time, they work toward meeting full accreditation standards.
The approved institutions include universities and nursing departments across various states in Nigeria. They are:
- American University of Nigeria
- University of Uyo
- Topfaith University
- Peters University
- Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare
- Bayelsa Medical University
- Benue State University
- Alex Ekwueme Federal University
- Federal University Oye Ekiti
- Godfrey Okoye University
- Kaduna State University
- Skyline University Nigeria
- Kwara State University
- Caleb University
- Federal University of Lafia
- Mountain Top University
- Wesley University Ondo
- University of Ilesa
- Koladaisi University
- University of Abuja
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria portal
Source: UGC
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria portal is an official online platform that provides digital services to nurses, midwives, students, and institutions in Nigeria.
Through the portal, users can perform several important processes, including registration, licensing, examination applications, and verification. It allows qualified nurses and midwives to create accounts, log in, and manage their professional records, including applying for licence renewal, updating personal details, and accessing certificates. Follow the steps below to log in:
- Visit the official NMCN portal.
- Click on the section written log in.
- Sign in using your email address and password.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria remains a cornerstone of Nigeria’s healthcare system. Through strict regulation, licensing, education, and discipline, it ensures that nurses and midwives deliver safe, ethical, and high-quality care. For anyone pursuing a career in nursing, it is recommended to register with the council to legally practice.
Legit.ng published an article on the University of Benin JAMB cut-off mark. The University of Benin (UNIBEN) is a Nigerian government-owned research university in Benin City, Edo State. It was established in 1970, and, like other universities, it has admission criteria based on cutoff marks.
The University of Benin has a set of admission criteria. The cut-off mark is set on students’ performance in specific examinations. You must exceed the minimum cutoff to get accepted, as the courses are very competitive. Learn more about the courses offered at UNIBEN and the required cutoff marks.
Source: Legit.ng
