At least 35 Colleges of Health Science running unaccredited courses with thousands of unsuspecting students, endangering public health in Kano.

Worse still, affected tertiary health colleges producing community health practitioners and other related personnel presently are populating health facilities in Kano with uncertified trainees for industrial service, investigation revealed.

Although, the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria’s updated 2025 list shows about 11 broader range of approved nursing-related institutions in Kano.

Besides, the potential risk to health population, proprietors of the notorious colleges of health now profited with in illegal business of admitting students for uncertainty and high charges.

The colleges spread across private and public institutions such as the College of Nursing Sciences, Dambatta; Madobi, Gezawa and Gwarzo, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Bayero University, and others.

Further check at Community Health Practitioner Registration Board of Nigeria North West office in Kano indicated only 18 health institutions passed through accreditation process and certified to train students in community health program.

However, the Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN) has raised alarm over the proliferation of School of Health Sciences and Community Health operating without requisite accreditation to produce professionals.

Concern over the menace, the association have petitioned the state public compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission for urgent investigation and sanction to stop a menace capable of worsening health care system in the state.

Confirming the development to The Guardian, Chairman of the Association of health practitioners in Kano, Comrade Khalid Hussaini lamented over potential damage the alleged illegal institutions post to Kano state.

Explaining the process of accreditation of health institutions in Nigeria, Comrade Hussaini disclosed that prior to admission of students, owners of the institutions are required to seek approvals from regulatory agencies including Community Health Practitioner Registration Board of Nigeria and State Ministry of Health.

According to him, ” the procedure is that, the proprietor will write to invite the board for inspection of facilities including location, equipment, human resources and other requirements.

“After the initial visit, the board when satisfied, will issue provisional approval to start admitting students. Unfortunately, most of the private health colleges are operating without satisfying the provisions. From our checks we have noticed more than 30 have not been accredited.

” This is not good for our system. They are first causing damage to our health system, secondly defrauding innocent students who don’t know what is happening and lastly, it is morally wrong to have prominent people running this kind of system. We have reported them to authorities and waiting for right action”. Comrade Hussaini revealed.

Also reacting on the development, the Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) said investigation into the operations of private tertiary health institutions has commenced.

According to Chairman of the Commission, Mr. Saidi Yahaya, “The investigation was prompted by a petition submitted by the Association of Community Health Practitioners of Nigeria (ACHPN) on 22 June 2026 and follows an earlier investigation that led to the closure of a private health training institution in Nasarawa Local Government Area on the same date.

“The exercise is designed to protect the public interest, safeguard students and parents from enrolling in unrecognized programmes, uphold professional standards in healthcare education, and ensure that only duly accredited institutions are entrusted with training future health professionals.

“The Commission is particularly concerned about the potential consequences of unregulated health training institutions, which may compromise the quality of healthcare services and pose risks to public health and safety”. Yahaya noted.