Sokoto State hosts several nursing and midwifery training institutions officially recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), ranging from a federal teaching hospital college to state-subsidised diploma schools and university-run degree programmes. Anyone planning to study nursing in Sokoto needs to know which schools carry valid NMCN accreditation, since only graduates of accredited institutions can sit for the NMCN professional licensing examination and practise legally as a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife in Nigeria.
This article lists the approved nursing institutions operating in Sokoto State, explains the type of training each one offers, and breaks down what students can expect to pay per session across the different categories of school.
Why NMCN Accreditation Matters Before Choosing a School
The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria is the statutory body responsible for approving nursing and midwifery training institutions across the country and for administering the licensing examination that qualifies a graduate to practise. Accreditation status is not permanent or automatic; full accreditation lasts five years, provisional accreditation lasts two years, and a school under embargo cannot admit new students until it corrects the deficiencies that triggered the embargo. This means a school that was accredited a few years ago is not automatically accredited today, so applicants should confirm current status before paying any fee.
Attending an unaccredited or embargoed nursing school carries a serious risk: graduates from such institutions are not eligible to sit for the NMCN licensing examination, which makes their certificate effectively unusable for professional practice. Every institution listed in this article holds recognised NMCN status as either a fully accredited or currently approved nursing training institution.
Categories of Nursing Education Available in Sokoto State
Nursing training in Sokoto State falls into four distinct categories, and understanding the difference helps a prospective student choose the right path based on budget, career goals, and how quickly they want to enter clinical practice.
The first category is the federal teaching hospital pathway, represented by the College of Nursing Sciences at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH). This college trains Registered Nurses through a three-year Basic General Nursing programme and also runs one-year post-basic specialisation courses for nurses who already hold an RN qualification.
The second category is the state-government pathway, made up of the Sokoto State College of Nursing Sciences (commonly called CONSSOKOTO) and its satellite campus, the College of Nursing Sciences, Tambuwal. These schools are subsidised by the Sokoto State Government and offer some of the lowest nursing school fees available anywhere in Nigeria, particularly for Sokoto State indigenes.
The third category is the university degree pathway, offered through Usmanu Danfodiyo University’s Department of Nursing, which runs the five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) programme as a federal university course.
The fourth category is the private pathway, represented by institutions such as North-West University, Sokoto (a private university offering a B.N.Sc. degree) and Gamji College of Nursing Sciences, a privately-run nursing college located in the Moreh District of Kware Local Government Area, near the Federal Science College, Sokoto.
List of Approved Nursing Schools in Sokoto State and Their Fees
The table below summarises the main approved nursing and midwifery programmes available in Sokoto State, the type of institution running each one, the duration of study, and the general fee range per session.
| Institution | Programme | Duration | Fee Range Per Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Nursing Sciences, UDUTH Sokoto | Basic General Nursing (RN) | 3 years | ₦100,000 – ₦150,000 |
| College of Nursing Sciences, UDUTH Sokoto | Post-Basic Specialisations (Perioperative, Ophthalmic, Anaesthetic, Cardiothoracic Nursing) | 1 year | ₦100,000 – ₦150,000 |
| Sokoto State College of Nursing Sciences (CONSSOKOTO) | Basic General Nursing (RN) | 3 years | ₦28,000 – ₦91,000 |
| Sokoto State College of Nursing Sciences (CONSSOKOTO) | Basic Midwifery (RM) | 3 years | ₦28,000 – ₦91,000 |
| College of Nursing Sciences, Tambuwal | Basic General Nursing / Basic Midwifery | 3 years | ₦25,000 – ₦85,000 |
| Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK), Department of Nursing | Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) | 5 years | ₦30,000 – ₦80,000 |
| North-West University, Sokoto | Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) | 5 years | ₦500,000 – ₦900,000 |
| Gamji College of Nursing Sciences | Basic General Nursing / Post-Basic Nursing | 2–3 years | Set by the school per admission cycle |
The lower end of the fee ranges for CONSSOKOTO and Tambuwal generally applies to Sokoto State indigenes, while the higher end applies to non-indigene applicants from other states. These published fees typically cover tuition and, in some cases, hostel accommodation for new students, but usually exclude the application form fee, uniform, medical screening, and other one-off admission charges, which students should budget for separately.
College of Nursing Sciences, UDUTH Sokoto
This is the nursing college attached to Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, the main federal referral hospital in Sokoto State. It runs a three-year Basic General Nursing programme leading to Registered Nurse status, along with four post-basic specialisation programmes in Perioperative Nursing, Ophthalmic Nursing, Anaesthetic Nursing, and Cardiothoracic Nursing, each of which requires an existing RN qualification and at least one year of clinical experience to enrol. Admission into the basic programme requires five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, along with a current-session UTME score, since the college now factors JAMB results into its screening process. Application processing is handled through the Remita payment platform, and successful applicants sit a computer-based entrance examination before final admission.
Sokoto State College of Nursing Sciences (CONSSOKOTO)
CONSSOKOTO is the state government’s flagship nursing training institution and the most budget-friendly option for indigenes on this list. It runs both a three-year Basic General Nursing programme and a three-year Basic Midwifery programme, alongside a Community Midwifery Programme and a one-year Refresher Programme designed for nurses who have failed the NMCN professional examination on three previous attempts. Entry requirements mirror those of other basic nursing programmes: five O’Level credits including English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, a minimum age of 17, and a mandatory entrance examination with an oral interview. Some CONSSOKOTO programmes do not require a UTME score, which makes the school accessible to candidates coming through direct entry pathways.
College of Nursing Sciences, Tambuwal
Tambuwal is a satellite campus of the state nursing college system, located roughly 80 kilometres from Sokoto metropolis in Tambuwal Local Government Area. It primarily serves students from the southern parts of Sokoto State and neighbouring communities who prefer a campus closer to home. The programmes offered, entry requirements, and fee structure closely mirror CONSSOKOTO, since both institutions fall under the same state government funding framework.
Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUSOK) – Bachelor of Nursing Science
UDUSOK offers a full five-year Bachelor of Nursing Science degree through its Department of Nursing, making it the only federal university in Sokoto State running a nursing degree programme. As a federal institution, its fees remain considerably lower than what most students would pay for an equivalent nursing degree at a private university, even though the programme leads to a more advanced qualification than the three-year diploma schools. Admission follows the standard federal university route: JAMB UTME registration with the subject combination of English, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, five O’Level credits in the same subjects plus Mathematics, and a Post-UTME screening exercise conducted by the university. Graduates of the B.N.Sc. programme are eligible for NMCN registration, NYSC mobilisation, postgraduate nursing studies, and, in many cases, easier recognition when seeking nursing licences abroad, since the degree route satisfies a broader set of international credentialing requirements than the diploma route.
North-West University, Sokoto – Bachelor of Nursing Science
North-West University is a private institution that also runs an NMCN-approved B.N.Sc. programme, giving students an alternative route into a nursing degree for those who do not secure admission at the federal university or who prefer a private academic environment with smaller class sizes. Fees here are markedly higher than at UDUSOK, reflecting the difference between government-subsidised and privately-funded tertiary education in Nigeria. Students considering this option should weigh the higher cost against benefits such as more flexible admission timelines and potentially smaller student-to-lecturer ratios.
Gamji College of Nursing Sciences
Gamji College of Nursing Sciences is a privately owned nursing institution situated in the Moreh District of Kware Local Government Area, adjacent to the Federal Science College, Sokoto. It offers general nursing training and post-basic nursing programmes, with its own admission cycle, application process, and fee schedule set independently by the school’s management. Because private nursing colleges of this type periodically update their fees and admission batches, prospective applicants should contact the school directly or check its official communication channels for the exact figures applicable to the current intake before applying.
General Admission Requirements Across Sokoto Nursing Schools
While each institution sets its own specific screening process, the baseline requirements for entry into nursing training in Sokoto State follow a consistent pattern across the three-year diploma programmes and the five-year degree programmes.
- Candidates need a minimum of five O’Level credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, obtained in not more than two sittings.
- Applicants for the diploma-level Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery programmes must be at least 17 years old at the point of application.
- University-based B.N.Sc. programmes require JAMB UTME registration with the institution selected as the first-choice school, followed by a Post-UTME screening exercise.
- Most schools, including UDUTH, now incorporate a current-session UTME score into their screening process even for diploma-level admission, alongside a written or computer-based entrance examination and an oral interview.
- Post-basic specialisation programmes require candidates to already hold a valid Registered Nurse certificate and NMCN practising licence, along with at least one year of post-qualification clinical experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the cheapest approved nursing school in Sokoto State?
The Sokoto State College of Nursing Sciences (CONSSOKOTO) and its Tambuwal campus offer the lowest fees on this list, particularly for Sokoto State indigenes, with charges starting from roughly ₦25,000 to ₦28,000 per session.
Do I need JAMB to study nursing in Sokoto State?
It depends on the school and programme. UDUTH now requires a current UTME score even for its diploma programme, while CONSSOKOTO and Tambuwal may admit certain candidates without JAMB. University B.N.Sc. programmes at UDUSOK and North-West University require JAMB registration in all cases.
What is the difference between the diploma nursing programme and the B.N.Sc. degree?
The diploma-level Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes take three years and lead to Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife status. The Bachelor of Nursing Science (B.N.Sc.) takes five years, leads to a full university degree, and opens up broader opportunities in teaching, research, postgraduate study, and international nursing practice.
Are fees the same for indigenes and non-indigenes?
No. At the state-government schools (CONSSOKOTO and Tambuwal), non-indigenes typically pay significantly more than Sokoto State indigenes for the same programme.
How current should fee information be before applying?
Fee figures change from one admission cycle to the next, so applicants should always confirm the exact current amount directly through the school’s official portal or admissions office before making any payment, rather than relying solely on previously published figures.