Zamfara State runs a fairly small nursing education sector compared to states like Kaduna, Kano, or Lagos, and most of the training capacity in the state sits with government-owned institutions. Even so, a handful of privately owned nursing colleges operate in the state under the supervision of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), and they give candidates who miss out on state or federal admission slots another route into the profession. This article explains which private nursing schools exist in Zamfara State, what they charge, what admission into them looks like, and what a candidate needs to budget for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Overview of Nursing Education in Zamfara State
Nursing training in Nigeria falls under three ownership categories: federal, state, and private. In Zamfara State, the dominant institution is the Zamfara State College of Nursing Sciences in Gusau, which is government-owned and trains the bulk of the state’s nursing and midwifery students. Private nursing education in the state is much smaller in scale, with only a few colleges holding NMCN accreditation.
Every nursing school in Nigeria, whether private or government-owned, must be accredited by the NMCN before its graduates can sit for the licensing examination that qualifies them to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Midwife (RM). This accreditation status matters more than school ownership when a candidate is choosing where to study, because a certificate from an unaccredited institution has no value in the profession.
Private Nursing Schools in Zamfara State
Two private institutions currently appear on the NMCN’s list of approved nursing training institutions in Zamfara State:
1. Umar Bin Khaddabi College of Nursing Sciences, Kaura Namoda
This college is located in Kaura Namoda, in the northern part of Zamfara State, behind the Divisional Police Station. It runs the Basic General Nursing programme and the Basic Midwifery programme, both leading to NMCN certification as a Registered Nurse or Registered Midwife after three years of study. The college also offers post-basic programmes for candidates who already hold an RN or RM qualification and want to specialize further, including post-basic nursing, post-basic midwifery, and perioperative nursing.
2. Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences, Gusau
This institution is based in Gusau, the Zamfara State capital, and appears on the NMCN’s approved list for private nursing training institutions. It offers the standard nursing and midwifery programmes that lead to RN and RM certification.
Beyond these two, most candidates from Zamfara who want a private nursing education end up looking outside the state, mainly to Kaduna, Kano, Sokoto, or Katsina, where the private nursing school sector is larger and more established.
What Private Nursing Schools in Zamfara State Charge
Private nursing school fees in Nigeria are almost never fixed year to year. They shift with inflation, the cost of hospital equipment, staff salaries, and the general economic climate, so the figures below serve as a working estimate for 2026/2027 rather than an official price list. A candidate planning to apply should always confirm current figures directly from the school’s admission office or portal before making any payment.
Generally, private nursing schools in Zamfara State and similar institutions across the northwest zone charge less than their counterparts in southern Nigeria, largely because the cost of accommodation, utilities, and clinical facilities in the region is comparatively lower.
| Fee Item | Estimated Amount (₦) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application/admission form | 10,000 – 15,000 | Paid once, non-refundable |
| Acceptance fee | 15,000 – 25,000 | Paid after admission is confirmed |
| Tuition per session | 150,000 – 280,000 | Varies by school and programme |
| Hostel/accommodation per session | 30,000 – 60,000 | Optional for day students |
| Uniform and clinical kit | 20,000 – 40,000 | One-time, mostly in year one |
| Practical/laboratory fee | 15,000 – 30,000 | Charged per session |
| Library and ICT fee | 5,000 – 10,000 | Charged per session |
| NMCN registration/exam fee | 15,000 – 25,000 | Paid before the licensing exam |
Across a three-year Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery programme, a student at a private nursing school in Zamfara State should budget somewhere between ₦600,000 and ₦1,000,000 in total, covering tuition, accommodation, uniforms, and miscellaneous charges across all six semesters. This range is lower than what many private nursing schools in the southern part of the country charge, where total programme costs can exceed ₦1,500,000.
Post-basic and specialized programmes, such as post-basic midwifery or perioperative nursing, generally attract a separate and often higher fee structure since they run for a shorter duration but require more intensive practical exposure.
Admission Requirements for Private Nursing Schools in Zamfara State
Private nursing schools in the state follow the same baseline entry requirements set by the NMCN, though individual schools may add their own screening steps.
- A minimum of five credit passes in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB, obtained in not more than two sittings, in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics for the Basic General Nursing programme.
- Five credit passes in English Language, Biology, and any other three relevant subjects for the Basic Midwifery programme.
- A birth certificate or a sworn declaration of age, since most schools set a minimum entry age of 16 to 17 years.
- A local government indigene certificate or proof of origin, mainly required for candidates seeking state government sponsorship or discounted fees.
- Successful completion of the school’s entrance examination and interview.
- Some private nursing schools admit candidates without requiring a JAMB UTME result, since nursing schools of this category are regulated by the NMCN rather than JAMB, though this varies by institution and by year, so a candidate should confirm directly with the school.
How Application Works
Application into these colleges typically follows a similar pattern each admission cycle:
- The college announces the sale of admission forms, usually through its website portal and social media pages.
- The candidate purchases the form online by paying the stipulated non-refundable fee.
- The candidate fills in personal details, uploads O’Level results, and submits the completed application.
- The college conducts a written entrance examination, followed by an oral interview for shortlisted candidates.
- Successful candidates are placed on an admission list, often released in batches, and are required to pay an acceptance fee within a stated deadline to secure their slot.
- Registration and payment of tuition follow once the candidate resumes for orientation.
Because admission at private nursing schools tends to run in multiple batches across a single session, candidates who miss the first batch still have a reasonable chance of admission in a later batch, unlike the single-intake process common at many government-owned schools.
Private vs Government Nursing Schools in Zamfara State: Key Differences
| Factor | Private Nursing Schools | Government Nursing Schools |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition cost | Higher, tuition-dependent | Lower, subsidized by government |
| Admission competitiveness | Comparatively lower | Highly competitive, limited quota |
| Admission batches | Often multiple batches per session | Usually a single intake per session |
| Facilities | Depend on the individual proprietor’s investment | Standardized across state institutions |
| Accreditation | Must hold valid NMCN accreditation | Automatically regulated as state institutions |
Neither category is automatically superior to the other. What determines the quality of training a student receives is the strength of the school’s clinical attachment arrangements, the experience of its tutors, and its NMCN accreditation status, not simply whether it is privately or government-owned.
Points to Confirm Before Applying
- Verify the school’s current NMCN accreditation status directly, since accreditation is renewed periodically and can lapse or come under embargo.
- Confirm the exact fee breakdown for the current session, since figures change from year to year.
- Ask about the availability and cost of hostel accommodation if the candidate is not resident within the school’s locality.
- Confirm the duration and cost of clinical postings, since some programmes require students to pay separate fees for postings to teaching hospitals outside the school’s immediate location.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there private nursing schools in Zamfara State?
Yes. Umar Bin Khaddabi College of Nursing Sciences in Kaura Namoda and Ummul-Khairi College of Nursing Sciences in Gusau are the two private institutions currently listed among NMCN-approved nursing training institutions in the state.
How much does it cost to study nursing at a private school in Zamfara State?
Tuition for a Basic Nursing or Basic Midwifery programme typically ranges from ₦150,000 to ₦280,000 per session, with total programme costs across three years falling between ₦600,000 and ₦1,000,000 when accommodation and other charges are included.
Do private nursing schools in Zamfara State require JAMB?
Some do not require a JAMB UTME result for admission, since nursing schools under the NMCN framework are not always tied to JAMB’s centralized admission process. Candidates should confirm this directly with the school they are applying to, since policies can differ by institution and by session.
How long does a nursing programme take at these schools?
The Basic General Nursing and Basic Midwifery programmes both run for three years, structured into six semesters, in line with the national curriculum approved by the NMCN.
Is a certificate from a private nursing school in Zamfara State recognized nationally?
Yes, as long as the school holds valid NMCN accreditation at the time of a student’s enrollment and graduation. Graduates from accredited private schools sit for the same NMCN licensing examination as their counterparts from government-owned institutions and receive the same professional recognition once they pass.