Prospective nursing students in Zamfara State need to know which institutions actually carry valid approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) before applying, since admission into an unrecognised programme wastes years of study and blocks a graduate from sitting the professional licensing examination. This article lists the approved nursing training institutions connected to Zamfara State, what each one offers, and what students should budget for school fees.
Why NMCN Approval Matters
The NMCN is the body responsible for approving every school of nursing, school of midwifery, post-basic nursing programme, and university department of nursing in Nigeria. Before granting approval, the council inspects an institution’s teaching staff, clinical facilities, and curriculum, and it reviews that approval periodically. Full accreditation status lasts five years, provisional accreditation lasts two years, and an institution placed under embargo cannot admit new students until it corrects the deficiencies identified during inspection. Because of this, a prospective student should always confirm an institution’s current accreditation status directly with the school or against the NMCN’s published list, rather than relying on an admission agent’s word or an outdated advert.
Approved Nursing Training Institutions in Zamfara State
Four main institutions currently provide nursing training pathways in or connected to Zamfara State.
1. Zamfara State College of Nursing Sciences (ZACONS), Gusau
This is the main state-owned nursing training institution in Zamfara State. It was carved out of the former Zamfara State College of Nursing and Midwifery in 2013 through Zamfara State Law No. 13, with a further legislative update in 2019. The college currently holds full NMCN accreditation and runs several programmes:
- National Diploma (ND) in Nursing
- Basic Nursing, leading to Registered Nurse (RN) status
- Community Nursing, a shorter diploma-style programme
- Post Basic Nursing, for already-qualified nurses seeking specialisation
- Refresher Nursing Programme, for practising nurses required to update their licence
- Foundation Year Programme (FYP), a preparatory track for candidates who need to strengthen their science background before starting the main nursing programme
Entry into the ND Nursing programme requires a minimum of five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with a UTME score that has recently been set at a minimum of 160. Community Nursing has a lighter entry requirement of five credits including English Language and Biology, plus any three other relevant subjects, since it does not carry the same UTME condition as the ND route.
2. Umar Bin Khaddabi College of Nursing Sciences, Kaura Namoda
This is a state-recognised institution located in Kaura Namoda, in the northern part of Zamfara State. It runs a Basic Nursing Programme and a Basic Midwifery Programme, both leading to the standard Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM) certification once a graduate passes the relevant NMCN licensing examination. This institution gives students in the Kaura Namoda axis of the state a nursing training option closer to home rather than having to travel to Gusau.
3. Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences, Gusau
This is a privately owned nursing institution based in Gusau, listed among the NMCN’s approved nursing training institutions. It runs both a Nursing Programme and a Midwifery Programme, awarding the Registered Nurse (RN) and Registered Midwife (RM) certifications respectively. As a private institution, its admission cycle and fee structure typically differ from the state-owned ZACONS, and interested candidates should confirm current entry requirements and fees directly with the college before applying.
4. Department of Nursing Science (BNSc), Federal University Gusau (FUGUS)
Federal University Gusau expanded its academic offerings in 2024 after receiving National Universities Commission (NUC) accreditation to run health-related professional courses, including Medicine and Surgery, Nursing Science, and Physiotherapy, under a newly established College of Health Sciences. This makes FUGUS the degree-level nursing option in Zamfara State, awarding a Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) rather than the diploma-style Registered Nurse certificate issued by ZACONS and the other colleges of nursing. Because this is a relatively new addition to the university’s programme list, candidates should confirm the department’s current NMCN accreditation status directly with the university before applying, since a university can hold NUC approval to run a course while its specific department is still completing the separate professional accreditation process required for full recognition by NMCN.
Comparison of Nursing Pathways in Zamfara State
| Institution | Ownership | Qualification Awarded | Recent UTME/Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zamfara State College of Nursing Sciences (ZACONS), Gusau | Zamfara State Government | ND Nursing / Basic Nursing (RN) | Around 160 for ND Nursing; lighter O’Level-based entry for Community Nursing |
| Umar Bin Khaddabi College of Nursing Sciences, Kaura Namoda | State-recognised | Basic Nursing / Basic Midwifery (RN/RM) | Standard five O’Level credits; confirm current UTME condition with the college |
| Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences, Gusau | Private | Nursing / Midwifery (RN/RM) | Standard five O’Level credits; confirm current UTME condition with the college |
| Federal University Gusau (FUGUS) | Federal Government | BNSc (Bachelor’s Degree) | Competitive; generally higher than the diploma-route colleges |
School Fees for Nursing Programmes in Zamfara State
Nursing school fees in Zamfara State follow the general pattern seen across Nigeria’s public and private nursing training institutions: an application/screening form fee, tuition and departmental charges once admitted, an ID card and library fee, examination fees, and hostel accommodation for students who choose to live on campus.
At ZACONS, the application form for the ND Nursing programme has recently cost around ₦12,000, while the Community Nursing form has cost around ₦8,500, both paid through the college’s official portal. Once admitted, tuition and departmental charges at state-owned colleges of nursing in Nigeria, including ZACONS, generally range from roughly ₦50,000 to ₦150,000 per session for indigenes of the state, with non-indigenes typically paying a higher rate. Because nursing training involves laboratory practicals, clinical placement in affiliated hospitals, and uniform requirements, the full cost per session, once accommodation and practicum charges are added, commonly runs higher than the base tuition figure alone.
Umar Bin Khaddabi College of Nursing Sciences and Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences, as smaller state-recognised and private institutions respectively, generally fall within a similar range for their diploma-style programmes, though private institutions can charge somewhat more than state-owned colleges due to the absence of government subvention. Candidates should confirm the exact current figure with each institution directly rather than relying on outdated estimates, since private nursing colleges review their fees more frequently than state-owned ones.
For the BNSc programme at Federal University Gusau, fees follow the university’s general undergraduate fee schedule for its College of Health Sciences rather than a nursing-specific figure. Federal universities in Nigeria typically charge modest tuition compared to private institutions, generally in the tens of thousands of naira per session, though science and health-related departments usually carry higher practical and laboratory charges than arts-based departments. Because federal university fee schedules are reviewed from one session to the next, prospective BNSc students should confirm the current, officially published fee breakdown directly from the university’s bursary or admissions portal before making any payment.
Admission Requirements Common to Nursing Programmes in Zamfara State
Across all four institutions, certain requirements repeat consistently:
- A minimum of five O’Level credit passes, generally including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, from WAEC, NECO, or an equivalent examination body, obtained at not more than two sittings.
- For diploma-route programmes such as ND Nursing at ZACONS, a valid UTME score meeting the institution’s stated minimum, along with passing the college’s own entrance examination and interview.
- For Community Nursing and similar lighter-entry tracks, a slightly different O’Level combination that does not always carry the same UTME condition as the main ND route.
- For the BNSc route at Federal University Gusau, standard UTME registration with the university selected as the candidate’s choice, followed by the university’s Post-UTME screening process.
- A minimum age requirement, generally set at 16 years for entry into basic nursing training programmes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many approved nursing institutions are there in Zamfara State?
There are four main pathways: Zamfara State College of Nursing Sciences (ZACONS) in Gusau, Umar Bin Khaddabi College of Nursing Sciences in Kaura Namoda, Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences in Gusau, and the Department of Nursing Science at Federal University Gusau.
What is the difference between ZACONS and the BNSc programme at Federal University Gusau?
ZACONS runs diploma-style programmes such as ND Nursing and Basic Nursing, leading to a Registered Nurse certificate. Federal University Gusau’s BNSc is a full university degree programme, added more recently under the university’s College of Health Sciences.
What is the UTME score needed for ND Nursing at ZACONS?
The college has recently required a minimum UTME score of around 160 for the ND Nursing programme, alongside the standard five O’Level credit requirement.
Is Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences a recognised institution?
Yes. It is listed among the institutions approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, though as a private college, candidates should confirm its current accreditation status and fee structure directly with the institution.
Can non-indigenes of Zamfara State apply to these nursing institutions?
Yes, though indigenes of Zamfara State typically pay lower fees at the state-owned institutions, and non-indigenes should confirm whether any additional charges or quota restrictions apply before applying.