More than 100 students from the Nursing and Physiotherapy departments of Zamfara State University in Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, Nigeria, are stranded after graduating without being indexed by their professional regulatory bodies. The university, established in 2018, has been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC), but its Nursing and Physiotherapy departments have not obtained full accreditation from their respective professional bodies. As a result, graduates are unable to proceed with professional processes required to practice their professions.
The affected students, including graduates from two sets of programs, are unable to take professional examinations due to the accreditation crisis. Nursing students are required to meet the professional requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), while physiotherapy students are subject to the requirements of their relevant professional regulatory body. A student affected by the situation expressed frustration, stating that they have been moving from one place to another, trying to find a solution, but nothing seems to be working.
The students questioned why the university continued to admit new students into the Nursing and Physiotherapy programs despite knowing that the programs had not secured the necessary professional accreditation. They expressed concern that the continued admission of students could further increase the number of graduates affected by the accreditation and indexing crisis. According to the students, two sets of students have already graduated from the programs without being indexed by their professional regulatory bodies.
Some of the pioneer students of the institution are reportedly undergoing internships, with some having already spent between five and six months on internship. The university has remained largely silent about the situation, and the students said that the lack of clear communication from the university management has compounded their frustration. They are uncertain about when the professional accreditation and indexing processes will be completed.
The students have repeatedly sought assistance from government ministries and other relevant authorities but have yet to receive a definitive solution. The crisis has continued amid changes in the university's management, with the former Vice-Chancellor leaving the position and a new Vice-Chancellor appointed to lead the institution. The students had expected that the accreditation crisis would be addressed with the change in leadership.
The students said they have been given assurances that the necessary steps would be taken once funds were made available, but they are skeptical about the use of funds. Some people had assumed that the state government had released funds to address the problem, but there are suspicions that the money may not have been used for the intended purpose. The students' immediate concern is not the political or administrative changes at the university but the need for a concrete solution to the accreditation and indexing crisis.
The students are calling on the Zamfara State Government, the university management, and the relevant professional regulatory bodies to urgently intervene and clarify the status of the two programs. They want the authorities to explain the situation and provide a solution to enable them to proceed with their professional careers. The students have invested years of study, tuition, and other resources in the programs and now risk being unable to practice their professions despite having completed their university education.
Key points
- Over 100 graduates from Zamfara University's Nursing and Physiotherapy departments are stranded due to accreditation issues.
- The university's Nursing and Physiotherapy departments have not obtained full accreditation from their respective professional regulatory bodies.
- The students are calling for urgent intervention from the Zamfara State Government, university management, and relevant professional regulatory bodies to resolve the accreditation crisis.
