Kogi State runs a mix of federal, state, and private institutions that train nurses, and candidates who want a faith-based or independently managed training environment usually look toward a private nursing school in Kogi State rather than a government-owned college. This article lists every recognised institution of this kind, explains what each one offers, and breaks down their fees for the 2026/2027 academic session so candidates can plan their finances and admission strategy with accurate figures.
Types of Nursing Institutions in Kogi State
Kogi State hosts three categories of institutions that train nurses: a federal university (Federal University Lokoja), state-owned colleges (Kogi State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede, and the nursing science programme at Prince Abubakar Audu University), and a smaller group of privately owned colleges. A private nursing school in Kogi State typically belongs to a religious mission, a diocese, or a private education proprietor rather than to the state or federal government, and this ownership structure directly affects tuition, admission style, and the pace at which admission decisions are made.
Fees at a private nursing school in Kogi State run higher than at the state-owned college in Obangede, but private institutions often process applications faster, run smaller cohorts, and in some cases prepare graduates for licensure examinations beyond Nigeria, such as the NCLEX examination used in the United States. Candidates choosing between a private and a state institution should weigh this cost difference against the intake speed, cohort size, and career direction they want.
List of Private Nursing Schools in Kogi State and Their Fees
The table below summarises every currently active private nursing school in Kogi State, along with the programmes each one runs and the estimated session fee.
| Institution | Location | Ownership | Programmes Offered | Estimated Fee (Per Session) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ECWA College of Nursing Sciences, Egbe | Egbe | ECWA Church Mission | Basic General Nursing, Basic Midwifery | ₦150,000 – ₦230,000 |
| Grimard Catholic College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba | Anyigba | Catholic Diocese of Idah | General Nursing, Basic Midwifery, Post-Basic Nursing | ₦150,000 – ₦200,000 |
| Okunland College of Nursing Sciences, Isanlu | Isanlu | Private Proprietorship | ND/HND Nursing, Midwifery, Post-Basic Nursing | ₦200,000 – ₦350,000 |
| Nana College of Nursing Sciences, Anyingba | Anyingba | Private Proprietorship | Nursing, Midwifery, Dental-Oral Health Nursing | ₦180,000 – ₦280,000 |
These figures cover tuition only and exclude acceptance fees, hostel accommodation, uniform costs, and departmental charges, which every institution bills separately. Since private institutions revise their fee schedules more frequently than state-owned colleges, candidates should treat the figures above as a planning estimate and confirm the exact amount on each school’s admission portal before making any payment.
ECWA College of Nursing Sciences, Egbe
ECWA College of Nursing Sciences sits at Egbe, on the road linking Ilorin and Lokoja, and traces its origin to a nursing training school that a missionary hospital established in the 1950s. It ranks among the oldest nursing training institutions in Nigeria and is widely regarded as the first private nursing school in Kogi State and one of the earliest in the country. The college trains students in Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery, and admission follows the standard UTME and O’Level route, with an application fee in the region of ₦34,000 for the current cycle. Its long operating history and consistent NMCN accreditation make it a preferred choice for candidates who want a mission-run training environment with an established clinical placement structure through ECWA Hospital, Egbe.
Grimard Catholic College of Nursing Sciences, Anyigba
Grimard Catholic College of Nursing Sciences operates under the Catholic Diocese of Idah in Anyigba and runs General Nursing, Basic Midwifery, and Post-Basic Nursing programmes. Admission requires a JAMB score of at least 160 in most recent cycles, along with five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics obtained in not more than two sittings. The application fee for entrance screening ranges between ₦15,000 and ₦20,000 depending on the programme, and tuition for admitted students falls between ₦150,000 and ₦200,000 per session, with self-contained hostel accommodation available at an additional cost. As a faith-based private nursing school in Kogi State, Grimard places emphasis on discipline and character formation alongside clinical training.
Okunland College of Nursing Sciences, Isanlu
Okunland College of Nursing Sciences is a newer institution, established in 2021 and located in Isanlu. It positions itself around international nursing standards and prepares its graduates for licensure examinations recognised outside Nigeria, including the NCLEX, in addition to the standard NMCN licensure route. The college runs ND and HND Nursing programmes along with Midwifery and Post-Basic Nursing, and requires a minimum JAMB score of 150 alongside five O’Level credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. The application fee is ₦20,000, and because of its international orientation and newer facilities, tuition at this private nursing school in Kogi State tends to sit above the older mission-run colleges, typically between ₦200,000 and ₦350,000 per session.
Nana College of Nursing Sciences, Anyingba
Nana College of Nursing Sciences, also based in Anyingba, distinguishes itself as the only private nursing school in Kogi State that runs a Dental-Oral Health Nursing programme in addition to standard Nursing and Midwifery training. This gives candidates interested in oral health an additional specialisation option that is not available at most other institutions in the state. Admission follows the same general pattern of UTME registration, O’Level credit requirements, and an entrance screening exercise, with tuition estimated between ₦180,000 and ₦280,000 per session depending on the programme selected.
Duration and Study Mode of the Programmes
Programme length varies by institution and by qualification type. Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery at the mission-run colleges, ECWA Egbe and Grimard Anyigba, typically run for three years, split into theory blocks and supervised clinical postings at an affiliated teaching hospital. Okunland College of Nursing Sciences structures its offering as an ND/HND pathway, where the National Diploma stage runs for two years and a further two years of Higher National Diploma study qualifies graduates for licensure examinations, including NCLEX where applicable. Nana College follows a similar three-year structure for its core Nursing and Midwifery tracks, with the Dental-Oral Health Nursing programme running on a comparable timeline. Post-Basic Nursing programmes, available at most of these institutions for candidates who already hold a nursing qualification and want to add midwifery or another specialty, generally take between twelve and eighteen months to complete. Candidates should confirm the exact structure and accreditation status of any programme directly with the institution, since curriculum length can be adjusted following an NMCN accreditation review.
Admission Requirements Common to Private Nursing Schools in Kogi State
Every private institution listed above applies broadly similar entry conditions, even though exact cut off marks and fee amounts differ by school. Candidates need the following to qualify:
- O’Level Credits: Five credit passes in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, obtained from WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB in not more than two sittings.
- UTME Registration: A valid JAMB result with the institution selected as first or second choice, since institutions without their own admission list rely on JAMB CAPS for final confirmation.
- Minimum UTME Score: Most institutions request a score between 150 and 160, though candidates should confirm the exact figure for the specific session, since minimums can shift from year to year.
- Age Requirement: Candidates are typically expected to be at least 16 to 17 years old by the time admission is confirmed.
- Entrance Screening: A written test, interview, or document verification exercise conducted by the institution after UTME results are released.
Candidates who did not list a particular institution during initial JAMB registration can still apply by requesting a change of institution at an accredited JAMB CBT centre, provided the change is made before the relevant deadline.
How Private Nursing School Fees Compare With State-Owned Institutions
Tuition at a private nursing school in Kogi State generally costs more than tuition at the Kogi State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede, where fees for state indigenes fall closer to ₦250,000 to ₦320,000 inclusive of miscellaneous charges but with heavily subsidised components for residents of the state. Private institutions do not offer this subsidy, so total costs, while sometimes appearing similar on paper, can work out higher once hostel fees, uniforms, and departmental levies are added. The trade-off many families accept is a shorter admission waiting period, a smaller class size, and in some cases a stronger clinical mentorship structure, since private colleges usually admit fewer students per intake than the state college.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the oldest private nursing school in Kogi State?
ECWA College of Nursing Sciences, Egbe, holds this distinction. It traces its founding to the 1950s and is recognised as one of the earliest private nursing training institutions in Nigeria.
What is the average fee for a private nursing school in Kogi State?
Fees generally range from ₦150,000 to ₦350,000 per session depending on the institution and programme, excluding acceptance fees, hostel charges, and departmental levies.
Do private nursing schools in Kogi State require JAMB?
Yes. All four institutions listed in this article require a valid UTME registration and result, alongside five relevant O’Level credits, before a candidate can proceed to entrance screening.
Can a candidate change their institution to a private nursing school in Kogi State after registering for JAMB?
Yes. Candidates who did not originally select the institution can request a change of institution at an accredited JAMB CBT centre before the deadline set for that admission cycle.
Is accommodation included in the fees listed above?
No. The fee estimates in this article cover tuition only. Hostel accommodation, where available, is billed separately by each institution.
Do these institutions accept Direct Entry candidates?
Some do, particularly for Post-Basic Nursing and HND-level programmes, where holders of an ND or an equivalent qualification can enter directly at an advanced stage. Candidates should confirm Direct Entry availability with the specific institution, since not every private nursing school in Kogi State runs a Direct Entry window every session.