The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has approved a college status for the Bayelsa State School of Nursing and Midwifery.
The NMCN Secretary General/Registrar, Dr. Farouk Abubakar, who led the accreditation team to the institution, disclosed this when the council visited Governor Douye Diri in Government House, Yenagoa, on Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah.
The statement quoted Abubakar as saying that the upgrade to a College of Nursing, Midwifery and Sciences was as a result of the team’s satisfaction with the infrastructure and facilities in the institution.
He said the facilities qualified it to be upgraded to a college, adding that the college could establish campuses in different parts of the state and also become affiliated to the Faculty of Nursing at the state-owned Niger Delta University.
Abubakar said the council also approved a 150 per cent increase in admission into the institution.
The NMCN boss commended the governor and the state government for providing excellent facilities at the institution, promoting health-related activities in the state and keying into the health reforms of the country.
In his remarks, Diri stated that measures would be put in place to implement the council’s recommendations, and expressed his administration’s commitment to develop the health sector through the promotion of health education.
He noted that his administration placed a high premium on the health sector, especially nursing and midwifery education, and would continue to implement policies to develop the sector.
The governor said, “We appreciate you for your favourable pronouncements, which include upgrading the school to a college, proposal for creation of additional campuses as well as proposing that the college be affiliated to the Niger Delta University.
“We assure you that we are equal to the task. The need for development of the infrastructure and multi-campuses will be considered. For us, health and education are two things we do not toy with.”