Kaduna State: Enacts College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences Rigasa Law 2026

• Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani signed a law establishing the Kaduna State College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences in Rigasa.
• The college aims to address specialist nurse shortages and enhance healthcare delivery across the state.
• It will offer advanced training in fields like midwifery, psychiatric nursing, and intensive care.
• A Governing Council and Academic Board will oversee the institution, with all programs requiring accreditation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
• This initiative is part of broader healthcare reforms in Kaduna State, including upgrades to primary healthcare centers and general hospitals.

Crucially, all educational programs at the Kaduna State College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences will be subject to the stringent accreditation and regulatory requirements set forth by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, along with other pertinent authorities, ensuring national recognition and quality assurance for its graduates.

Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani recently enacted legislation to establish the Kaduna State College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences, situated in Rigasa, within the Igabi Local Government Area. This significant development, announced by Commissioner for Information and Culture Ahmed Maiyaki, is designed to address critical shortages of specialist nurses and enhance the overall quality of healthcare services across the state. The new institution represents a strategic investment aimed at fostering advanced nursing education and cultivating a skilled healthcare workforce.

The college is specifically tasked with expanding opportunities for advanced nursing training, thereby producing highly specialized professionals in various essential healthcare domains. Its curriculum is intended to improve crucial services such as maternal and child care, emergency response capabilities, and intensive care provisions throughout Kaduna State. This initiative underscores a commitment to bolstering clinical expertise and ensuring that medical infrastructure is supported by adequately trained personnel.

Operating under the provisions of the Kaduna State College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences, Rigasa Law, 2026, the institution is formally recognized as a specialized tertiary training college. While its primary campus will be located in Rigasa, the legislation includes provisions for the future establishment of additional campuses, schools, and training centres, contingent upon securing necessary regulatory approvals. The comprehensive range of programs planned for the college includes midwifery, psychiatric and mental health nursing, perioperative nursing, paediatric nursing, accident and emergency nursing, intensive care nursing, public health nursing, and nursing administration.

The legal framework for this new college also outlines a robust governance structure. A Governing Council will be responsible for providing strategic direction and institutional oversight, ensuring the college's long-term vision and operational integrity. Concurrently, an Academic Board is mandated to uphold rigorous academic standards, promote research initiatives, and oversee the quality of professional training offered. Crucially, all educational programs at the Kaduna State College of Post-Basic Nursing Sciences will be subject to the stringent accreditation and regulatory requirements set forth by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, along with other pertinent authorities, ensuring national recognition and quality assurance for its graduates.

Governor Sani's assent to this legislation signifies a substantial investment in developing a skilled workforce essential for addressing personnel deficits and strengthening clinical expertise within Kaduna State. Beyond its core professional training mandate, the college is also expected to actively promote research, facilitate continuous professional development for healthcare practitioners, and forge partnerships with teaching hospitals, universities, specialist facilities, and other accredited institutions. This collaborative approach aims to integrate the college into the broader healthcare ecosystem.

This establishment is a key component of the Kaduna State government's wider healthcare reform agenda. It complements ongoing efforts such as the upgrading of 255 primary healthcare centres, the rehabilitation of 16 general hospitals, and significant investments in the recruitment and development of health workers. The Commissioner for Information and Culture emphasized that investments in medical infrastructure must be matched by a cadre of qualified professionals capable of delivering specialized services, particularly in underserved communities. The state government is confident that this institution will significantly enhance its capacity to train specialist nurses, thereby contributing to improved healthcare outcomes and positioning the college as a centre of excellence for specialist nursing education, research, and clinical training, aligning with the state's overarching goal of providing accessible, quality, and people-centred healthcare.

Lawyers advising educational institutions or healthcare providers in Kaduna State should be aware of this new legislation establishing a specialized nursing college, as it creates a new regulatory and educational entity that may impact workforce development, accreditation standards, and potential partnership opportunities within the state's healthcare sector. Compliance officers should monitor the specific regulatory requirements and standards that will be enforced by the Governing Council and Academic Board, subject to the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH Newspaper.