Ekiti State hosts a mix of government-run, federal, and private nursing training institutions, giving prospective students in the state several accredited routes into the nursing profession. This article lists the approved nursing schools in Ekiti State, explains what each offers, and sets out the school fees students should budget for in the 2026/2027 academic session.
What “Approved” Means for Nursing Schools in Nigeria
A nursing school is approved when it holds accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), the regulatory body responsible for nursing and midwifery education across the country. NMCN accreditation is either full, lasting five years before renewal, or provisional, lasting two years while a school builds up to full standard. Degree-level nursing programmes additionally require accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), while diploma-level nursing programmes tied to a technical or ND framework also require recognition from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Graduating from a school without valid NMCN accreditation prevents a student from sitting the NMCN licensing examination, which means the graduate cannot register as a nurse or practise in Nigeria. Before applying, a candidate should confirm a school’s current accreditation status directly, since NMCN updates its approved list periodically and status can change between reviews.
Approved Nursing Institutions in Ekiti State
Ekiti State runs four main categories of accredited nursing training: a state teaching hospital college, a federal teaching hospital college, a federal university department, a state university department, and a private university faculty.
| Institution | Type | Programme Offered | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Nursing Sciences, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) | State teaching hospital college | ND/HND Basic Nursing (JAMB-aligned, NBTE-recognised) | Ado-Ekiti |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Federal Teaching Hospital / FUOYE (FTH/FUOYE) | Federal teaching hospital college | Basic Nursing | Ido-Ekiti |
| Department of Nursing Science, Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) | Federal university | B.N.Sc Nursing | Oye-Ekiti (with Ikole-Ekiti campus link) |
| Department of Nursing Sciences, Ekiti State University (EKSU) | State university | B.N.Sc Nursing | Ado-Ekiti |
| Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) | Private university | B.N.Sc Nursing | Ado-Ekiti |
Each of these institutions holds current NMCN accreditation for its nursing programme, and the university-based options also carry NUC accreditation for the B.N.Sc degree. A candidate should still verify accreditation status for the specific session they intend to apply in, since accreditation periods expire and are renewed on a rolling basis.
School Fees for Nursing in Ekiti State
Fees vary sharply depending on whether the institution is a government-run teaching hospital college, a federal university, or a private university. The table below gives a general fee guide; exact figures should be confirmed with each institution before payment, since school fees are reviewed periodically and can change from one session to the next.
| Institution | Programme | Estimated Fee (per session) |
|---|---|---|
| EKSUTH College of Nursing Sciences | ND/HND Basic Nursing | ₦100,000 – ₦180,000 |
| FTH/FUOYE College of Nursing Sciences, Ido-Ekiti | Basic Nursing | ₦100,000 – ₦180,000 |
| Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) | B.N.Sc Nursing | ₦180,000 – ₦220,000 |
| Ekiti State University (EKSU) | B.N.Sc Nursing | ₦150,000 – ₦250,000 |
| Afe Babalola University (ABUAD) | B.N.Sc Nursing | ₦1,200,000 – ₦2,000,000 |
A few points explain this spread:
- Government-run teaching hospital colleges are the cheapest route. The School of Nursing at EKSUTH and the College of Nursing Sciences at FTH/FUOYE, Ido-Ekiti, are the most affordable options in the state, with annual fees generally staying under ₦200,000. These institutions run ND/HND Basic Nursing programmes rather than a full university degree, and now largely require JAMB registration alongside their own screening process.
- Federal and state universities cost more than teaching hospital colleges but far less than the private option. FUOYE and EKSU both run B.N.Sc Nursing degrees, and because they are government-funded, their tuition is a fraction of what a private university charges, even though the degree carries the added weight of a full university qualification.
- Afe Babalola University charges private university rates. As a private institution, ABUAD’s Nursing fees are set independently of government subsidy and reflect the university’s boarding requirement, modern teaching hospital facilities, and smaller class sizes. Fees at ABUAD typically run into the low millions of naira per session and increase somewhat at higher levels, and accommodation, which is compulsory at ABUAD, is billed separately from tuition.
- Application, acceptance, and hostel fees are separate from tuition. Application forms for teaching hospital colleges typically fall between ₦10,000 and ₦20,000, while university acceptance fees generally range from ₦20,000 to ₦50,000 depending on the institution. Private university acceptance fees, particularly at ABUAD, run considerably higher. Hostel accommodation is an additional cost everywhere except at ABUAD, where it is built into the total fee since boarding is compulsory for all students.
Admission Requirements for Nursing Schools in Ekiti State
Entry requirements are broadly consistent across the approved institutions, though the specific route into each differs by programme level.
- O’Level requirement: Five credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, including English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- JAMB requirement for degree programmes: EKSU, FUOYE, and ABUAD all require a valid UTME result with a competitive score for their B.N.Sc programmes. FUOYE’s Nursing cut-off mark, for example, has sat well above the university’s general cut-off mark in recent sessions, reflecting how competitive the course is relative to other departments.
- JAMB requirement for diploma-level colleges: The EKSUTH and FTH/FUOYE nursing colleges have moved toward a JAMB-aligned entry model for their ND/HND Basic Nursing programmes, so a standalone entry route without any JAMB requirement is increasingly rare, even at the teaching hospital college level.
- Institutional screening: Beyond JAMB, most institutions run their own computer-based screening or Computer-Assisted Screening (CAS) exercise before finalising admission.
- Age requirement: Most institutions set a minimum age of 17 years at the point of application.
How to Choose Between the Available Options
A candidate weighing the available routes in Ekiti State is essentially balancing cost against qualification type and facilities. The EKSUTH and FTH/FUOYE nursing colleges offer the lowest-cost path into the profession, leading to an ND/HND-level Basic Nursing qualification and direct eligibility for NMCN registration in about three years, making them the practical choice for students on a tighter budget. FUOYE and EKSU offer a full B.N.Sc degree at government-subsidised rates, giving graduates a university qualification that supports later postgraduate study or specialisation, at a moderate cost above the diploma colleges. ABUAD sits at the premium end, offering a B.N.Sc degree with private-university facilities, a dedicated teaching hospital, and smaller class sizes, but at a fee level that is many times higher than any other option in the state.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is JAMB compulsory for every nursing school in Ekiti State?
Increasingly, yes. University B.N.Sc programmes at EKSU, FUOYE, and ABUAD have always required JAMB UTME, and the teaching hospital colleges at EKSUTH and FTH/FUOYE now also require JAMB registration alongside their own screening process for their diploma-level programmes.
Which nursing school in Ekiti State has the lowest fees?
The School of Nursing at EKSUTH and the College of Nursing Sciences at FTH/FUOYE, Ido-Ekiti, are the most affordable, with annual fees generally under ₦200,000, well below the university-based B.N.Sc programmes and far below ABUAD’s private university rates.
Do the listed fees include hostel accommodation?
No, except at ABUAD, where accommodation is compulsory and factored into the overall cost. At the other institutions, hostel accommodation is billed separately from tuition and varies by room type.
Can a non-indigene of Ekiti State apply to these nursing schools?
Yes. All the approved nursing institutions in Ekiti State admit non-indigenes, though indigene status may affect fee categorisation or admission consideration at some state-run institutions.
How can a candidate confirm current accreditation before applying?
NMCN publishes and periodically updates its list of accredited nursing and midwifery institutions, and each school’s admission office can also confirm its current accreditation status directly on request.