by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
JOS: The Plateau State University (PLASU), Bokkos, has hosted a five-member team from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) on a pre-accreditation visit to the University’s Department of Nursing, ahead of the proposed accreditation of its academic programmes.
The visit is aimed at assessing the department’s level of preparedness and ensuring that the necessary academic, human and infrastructural requirements are in place for the successful accreditation of its nursing programme.
The Department of Nursing, established four years ago, has commenced academic activities and currently has students in the 400-level. The proposed accreditation represents an important step towards strengthening the programme and ensuring that it meets the professional and regulatory standards required for nursing education in Nigeria.
Receiving the delegation on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Shadrach Gaya Best, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics), Associate Professor Martha Niri Choji, assured the team of the University’s full cooperation throughout the accreditation process.
Professor Best expressed the University’s readiness to work with the Council to address relevant requirements and facilitate the successful assessment of the programme.
He noted that the University had put facilities in place to support the development of its academic programmes, while acknowledging that the final approval of such programmes rests with the appropriate regulatory bodies, including the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor emphasised that no institution could claim to have all the facilities it required at once, stressing that the University remained committed to continuous improvement and the expansion of academic opportunities to meet the educational needs of the growing population.
He further expressed the University’s determination to provide diverse academic programmes that would contribute to manpower development and national growth.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Chairman of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, North-Central Zone, Nurse Aridi Elkana Simon, said the five-member team was committed to working collaboratively with the University to ensure a successful accreditation process.
He emphasised the importance of cooperation between the Council and the University in achieving the required standards for nursing education.
Following the reception, the delegation visited the Department of Nursing to assess its level of preparedness. The team was accompanied by the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Dr Mahan Josiah Mallo, alongside Nurse John Ogundiran.
The visit underscores Plateau State University’s commitment to strengthening health sciences education and developing its nursing programme, in line with the relevant regulatory and professional standards.