Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has urged nursing students in the state to remain and serve within the local health sector after graduation, warning that the rising trend of relocating abroad was undermining the state’s investment in healthcare.
Mbah spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, on Thursday, April 10, during the maiden matriculation of the Enugu State College of Nursing for the 2024/2025 session.
He said, “We don’t train you and after spending all that money in infrastructure and the first opportunity you get you leave our healthcare facilities.”
The governor appealed to the 240 matriculating students—120 each from the Parklane and Awgu campuses—to appreciate the significant resources the government had committed to their training.
He said, “One thing we are very particular [about] is how we improve the service conditions so that when you go through the effort of getting your certificate, you don’t leave our state.”
According to the governor, the focus on education and health in the 2024 and 2025 state budgets reflects a deliberate effort to build a sustainable health system that meets both local and international standards.
“The bold move and the can-do spirit initiative of the administration, that led to guaranteeing the future of the people and transforming the state into a hub of medical tourism,” he said, led to several accreditations by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).
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Governor Mbah revealed that the journey began with the accreditation of the School of Midwifery, which had faced a two-year delay before students could be officially indexed for national exams.
The state later invited both NMCN and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) to upgrade the former nursing school into a full-fledged college.
“This transformation required considerable investment and commitment, which the government wholeheartedly provided,” he added.
Dr Yomi Jaye, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, described Enugu as one of the first states to adopt the collegial status, enabling students to graduate with four recognised qualifications: Ordinary National Diploma, Registered Nurse, Registered Midwifery, and Higher National Diploma.
He noted that the student intake had grown from 50 to 240, and would increase further in the next session to support the 260 new Primary Health Centres under construction. He also announced upgrades to major hospitals as part of the administration’s broader plan to discourage emigration.
In her remarks, the Acting Provost of the college, Dr Nkechi Ani, commended the Mbah administration for improving infrastructure, building an ICT centre, facilitating international courses, and providing continuous training for both staff and students.
One of the new students, Rita Ogbodo, expressed appreciation, saying the college upgrade had enabled them to earn four certificates upon completion of their programme.