….gives instant approval of facility as Council Exams centre

… decries loss of nurses to jappa syndrome

It was pomp and pageantry as the Registrar and CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr. Alhassan Ndagi, on Saturday March 1, 2025, officially commissioned the state-of-the-art 700-seater capacity CBT Examination Center at the College of Nursing Sciences Obohia Ndoki, Ukwa East LGA of Abia state.

The 700 -seater capacity CBT Examination center which is first of it’s kind, was built and equipped by the management of college of nursing science obohia Ndoki.

Commissioning the facility, Dr. Ndagi expressed satisfaction with the facility, describing it as a game-changer. He lauded the vision of the Chairman of the College for ensuring that the College experience a positive impact that is influencing the development of the nursing profession in Nigeria.

“This facility is massive and worth celebrating. It is a game changer in the nursing profession. It will ease the stress of transporting students to other cities to write professional examinations. I am happy to be associated with this faculty and I commend Dr. Umontuen and his team for a job well done. His leadership and vision for nursing education are truly commendable, and his efforts to promote excellence in nursing practice are inspiring”. Ndagi said.

Ndagi instantly approved the center as a venue for the May 2025 Professional examination. Notably, he acknowledged the facility as the second-largest examination center in Nigeria, after Kano.

“Based on what I have seen here today, I can boldly say that outside Kano, this facility is the second-largest examination center in Nigeria. By the powers conferred on me as the Registrar of the Council, I hereby approve this facility as centre for the May 2025 Professional examination. By this other colleges can send their student nurses here for their Council examination”. Ndagi said.

Dr. Ndagi’s endorsement of the facility is a significant milestone for the College of Nursing Sciences, Obohia Ndoki, and a major boost to nursing education in Nigeria. He decried the dearth of nurses noting that Nigeria at the moment has 250,000 trained nurses taking care of over 160 million people as against one million. He also lamented the loss of nurses through the jappa syndrome stating that 17,000 nurses left Nigeria in 2023 while 50,000 left between 2023 and 2025. He noted the College of Nursing Sciences Obohia through this milestone must intensify efforts to reverse this trend by ensuring yet it provides a top-notch nursing education.

Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Chairman Governing Council of the College and the founder of Maurid Polytechnic, Akwa ibom, Dr. Godwin Umontuen, thanked the Registrar and his team for honouring the invite and for all the support he has given the College from inception.

He noted that the newly completed facility is equipped with modern infrastructure, enabling seamless conduct of e-examinations.

According to Dr. Godwin Umontuen, this project will revolutionize digital nursing education in Nigeria. “It will add significant value to our college and the nursing education sector as a whole, enabling us to conduct efficient and secure e-examinations, enhance our students’ digital literacy skills, and provide a platform for continuous assessment and evaluation.” Umontuen stressed, adding that the Examination centre was a fulfillment of a promise he made to Dr. Faruk Abubakar, the former Registrar of the Council now Health Commissioner in Sokoto State.

Dr. Umontuen noted that the college’s growth is reminiscent of the biblical story of the mustard seed, which grows from a small beginning into a mighty tree.
With this new facility, the college is poised to continue providing world-class nursing education and making a positive impact on the healthcare sector in Nigeria.

Highlighting the components of the facility, the Registrar of the College, Comr. Vincent Aluu PhD, noted that the facility is a 700 seater capacity, equipped with modern technology for E-examinations, online job recruitment trainings and interviews, provision for JAMB and WAEC CBTs. He also added that the facility is fully equipped with Air-conditioners, networking devices and internet resources, among others. He said the facility serves as digital hub for staff and student development.

Goodwill messages were received from prominent citizens of the local government including the Mayor of Ukwa East Local Government Area represented by Chief Obioma Nwulu, Sir Emeka Stanley, former House of Representatives member and former Chairman of Abia state Oil producing Development
OBINNA Nwagbara and EZE Elect Obohia Autonomous Community, Chief Ugochukwu John Nduwuisi.

In her vote of thanks the Provost of the College,Ugoeze Nwankwo Uche Grace, thanked the Registrar of the Nursing Council and his team for honouring the College’s invite with their esteemed presence despite their tight schedules. She also thanked the prominent personalities of the local government and the traditional institutions for coming. She eulogized Obohia community and their leaders for being good hosts.

The event also featured debate by the students, presentation of gifts to the Council Registrar by the students and display by cultural troupes.