The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted Novena University, Ogume, Delta State, approval to commence Postgraduate Diploma (PGD), Master of Science (M.Sc.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programmes in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science. The programmes will be offered at the Amai Campus of Novena University. This development follows a comprehensive resource verification exercise, which confirmed that the university meets all requirements in faculty, laboratories, library, clinical postings, and research facilities.
Novena University, the first private university in Delta State, was licensed in 2005 to complement public universities in providing access to professional education. The university currently enjoys Full Accreditation in both Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science, with its graduates inducted by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). The institution has grown into a comprehensive health sciences university offering fully accredited courses in various fields, including Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Optometry, Public Health, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology.
The approval, conveyed in a letter dated September 11, 2026, and signed by Abubakar M. Girei, Director, Academic Planning, on behalf of the Executive Secretary of the NUC, is a significant milestone for Novena University. The university's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Godwin Chukuenweniwe Nduka, described the approval as a historic validation of the university's two-decade investment in quality healthcare education. He emphasized that the university is committed to producing problem-solvers for Nigeria's health challenges.
The postgraduate programmes in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science will address the dearth of postgraduate training opportunities for nurses and medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria. According to Professor Charles Ofili, Provost of the College of Medical and Health Sciences, Nigeria loses many qualified nurses and laboratory scientists who travel abroad in search of postgraduate specialization. Novena University's programmes will provide a credible, home-grown alternative, with fully functional laboratories, simulation suites, and affiliated teaching hospitals.
The university's management confirmed that its postgraduate school is now accepting enquiries for the 2026/2027 session and called on practicing nurses, medical laboratory scientists, and other health professionals seeking career advancement to take advantage of the opportunity. The Director of Protocols and Communications, Dr. Emmanuel Odishika, said the approval positions Novena University as a key player in Nigeria's human capital export strategy, enabling the university to train professionals who can attain leadership roles globally.
Reverend Linus Ilogho, Registrar and Secretary to Council, attributed the approval to the university's commitment to regulatory standards and institutional stability. He noted that the university has grown from a bold idea in 2005 to a fully accredited institution whose graduates are accepted nationally and internationally. The university's goal is to produce highly competent healthcare professionals who can strengthen Nigeria's health system and remain globally competitive.
The NUC's approval of postgraduate programmes in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science at Novena University is a significant development in Nigeria's education sector. The university's commitment to quality healthcare education and its focus on producing problem-solvers for Nigeria's health challenges are expected to have a positive impact on the country's health system.
Key points
- Novena University has received NUC approval for postgraduate programmes in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science.
- The programmes aim to address the dearth of postgraduate training opportunities for nurses and medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria.
- The university's goal is to produce highly competent healthcare professionals who can strengthen Nigeria's health system and remain globally competitive.
