Taraba Nursing College Targets BNSc Graduates In 4 Years

Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences has unveiled plans to begin producing Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (BNSc) graduates within the next four to five years.

According to the college, the development signalled a major shift in the institution’s academic and professional training programme.

The provost of the college, Dr Dorcas Dugule, disclosed this during the institution’s combined second convocation for the 2024–2026 academic sessions in Jalingo.

Dugule said the planned transition to degree-level nursing education was being pursued in affiliation with Taraba State University, Jalingo.

According to her, the college is currently working towards graduating nurses with Ordinary Diploma and Higher National Diploma (HND) qualifications before moving fully into BNSc training.

She said graduates of the diploma and HND programmes would proceed for internship and the mandatory NYSC programme to complete the requirements for professional certification.

The Provost explained that admission into the college had also evolved, with candidates now required to possess five credit passes in relevant science subjects, including English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics and Biology.

He said, the institution was determined to move from basic nursing education to higher professional training, stressing that “we are moving from nothing to something, and from something to greater things.”

The Provost also charged graduating nurses to put service to Taraba State ahead of the pursuit of greener pastures, and urged them to deploy their skills to strengthen healthcare delivery in the state.

“Let them start serving their people first before they go for any greener pasture they want to,” he said.

He appealed to parents to encourage their children to embrace science subjects, describing nursing as a noble and rewarding profession with opportunities for professional advancement.

On infrastructure, the Provost said the Taraba State Government had continued to support the institution, disclosing that the college was awaiting the commissioning of a newly completed facility.

He added that, five containers of equipment were expected to arrive for the furnishing of the twin lecture theatre, laboratories, demonstration rooms, hostels and other facilities.

The Provost expressed appreciation to Governor Agbu Kefas for the attention given to the institution, saying the college was poised to expand its programmes and infrastructure to meet the growing demand for qualified nurses in the state.

Meanwhile, the Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has released funds for the accreditation exercise of the College of Nursing Sciences by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), as the state moves to secure affiliation for the Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc) programme.

The governor said the BNSc programme, when fully affiliated, would significantly strengthen the state’s capacity to produce highly trained nursing professionals needed to meet the growing demands of the healthcare sector.

Governor Kefas disclosed this during the 2nd Combined Convocation Ceremony of the College in Jalingo, where he was represented by the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Bonzena.

“We are also encouraged by the progress towards the affiliation of the Bachelor of Nursing Science programme. This will strengthen the capacity we need for the future of healthcare in Taraba State,” he said.

The governor said, his administration recognised the strategic importance of the College to the state’s healthcare system, assuring the institution of continued government support for its academic and infrastructural development.

He disclosed that the funds released for the NMCN accreditation exercise were part of the administration’s efforts to ensure that the College attained the required standards for professional training.

According to him, the government would continue to support the institution within available resources, and stressed that quality healthcare delivery could not be achieved without properly trained and professionally competent health workers.

The governor further declared that the College had emerged as one of the best-equipped nursing institutions in the country.

“You will agree with me that the College is second to none in Nigeria in terms of infrastructure and facilities,” he said.

He listed lecture facilities, equipped laboratories, student accommodation and improved security among the areas where his administration had intervened to strengthen the learning environment.

The governor said education remained central to his administration’s “Moving Forward” agenda, noting that government’s responsibility was not merely to establish institutions but to ensure that they were adequately equipped to produce graduates capable of meeting societal needs.

“Education remains central to our administration’s agenda of Moving Forward. Government’s responsibility is not only to establish schools; we must also strengthen them so they produce graduates who meet the needs of society and raise the standard of service in every sector,” he said.

Governor Kefas charged the graduands to uphold professional ethics, protect patients’ confidentiality and treat every patient with dignity, compassion and respect.

“As nurses, you will work with people in some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. So, you must do more than treat illness. You must also demonstrate compassion, patience and professionalism,” he said.

He urged the graduands to continually update their knowledge, work responsibly with colleagues and other healthcare professionals, and remain worthy ambassadors of the College and Taraba State.

“Let your conduct, competence and integrity bring honour to the College that trained you,” he added.

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr. Mike Dio Jen, congratulated the graduands and urged them to leverage their education and professional training to contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery and societal development.

“I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities provided by your education to continue to improve your professional knowledge and skills, and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare sector and the development of society,” he said.

The commissioner commended Governor Kefas for his continued support for education and tertiary institutions across the state.

In a message, on behalf of tertiary institutions in the state, the Chairman of Tertiary Education Institutions and Vice-Chancellor of Taraba State University, Prof. Sunday Paul Bako, commended Governor Kefas for directing tertiary institutions to clear outstanding convocation backlogs.

Prof. Bako said the directive had renewed efforts by institutions across the state to conduct long-overdue ceremonies, some of which had accumulated over several years.

He described the convocation as a significant academic milestone and urged the graduands to maintain high professional standards as they commence their careers in the healthcare sector.

He noted that the College’s ceremony was the fifth in the series of combined convocations, with Taraba State University expected to hold the sixth.

Prof. Bako also commended the governor for his commitment to the development of education, particularly tertiary education, in Taraba State.