Top 50 Best Schools of Nursing in Nigeria Now — Full Detail
If you have been searching for the best school of nursing in Nigeria, you are not alone. Every year, thousands of young Nigerians passionate about healthcare make this same search — and the truth is that not all nursing schools are created equal.
Some will give you the solid foundation you need to thrive in clinical practice. Others will leave you with a certificate and very little else.
I have spent time talking to nursing students, qualified nurses, and healthcare educators across Nigeria, and what I am about to share with you goes beyond the regular list you will find on most websites. This is the real picture — institutions, facts, and insider knowledge that will actually help you make the right decision.
Let us get into it.
What You Should Know Before Choosing a Nursing School in Nigeria
Before we even get to the list, there is something important you need to understand. Nursing education in Nigeria is regulated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). Any school you attend must be accredited by the NMCN — otherwise, your certificate is not worth the paper it is printed on, and you will not be able to sit for the licensing examination.
There are two main nursing programmes you will encounter:
Basic Nursing (RN) — This is a three-year diploma programme offered in Schools of Nursing attached to general and specialist hospitals. The entry requirement is five O-Level credits, including English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics.
B.Sc. Nursing — This is a four or five-year degree programme offered in universities. It is the more academically comprehensive path and opens doors to research, teaching, and international practice.
Both are valid. Your choice depends on your goals, your finances, and how quickly you want to enter the workforce.
The 50 Best School of Nursing in Nigeria
1. University of Lagos (UNILAG) — Department of Nursing Science
Lagos State
UNILAG’s nursing programme sits under the College of Medicine at the Idi-Araba campus and has consistently produced some of the best-trained nurses in the country. The clinical exposure students get at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) is unmatched. LUTH sees some of the most complex cases in West Africa, which means students graduate with real, hands-on competence.
2. University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) — Department of Nursing Science
Enugu State
One of the oldest and most respected nursing departments in the country. The University of Nigeria has a long tradition of academic excellence, and its nursing programme benefits from affiliation with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH). Graduates from here are well-regarded both locally and internationally.
3. Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) — Department of Nursing Science
Osun State
OAU Ile-Ife has built a strong reputation in health sciences over the decades. The nursing department benefits from the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital complex, and the curriculum is rigorous. Students here are exposed to community health nursing in a way that prepares them for rural and urban practice alike.
4. University of Ibadan — Department of Nursing
Oyo State
UI, as it is commonly known, is Nigeria’s premier university, and its nursing programme reflects that standard. The University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan is where students get their clinical training, and UCH is one of the most storied teaching hospitals on the continent. Getting into UI nursing is competitive, and for good reason.
5. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) — Department of Nursing Science
Kaduna State
ABU Zaria serves the northern region in a particularly important way. With a large catchment area and a teaching hospital that handles enormous patient volumes, nursing students here get broad clinical experience.
The programme is well-structured, and the faculty includes experienced clinicians who have practised both in Nigeria and abroad.
6. University of Benin — Department of Nursing Science
Edo State
UNIBEN has a well-established nursing programme backed by the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH). The teaching hospital is one of the busiest in the South-South region, and students benefit from that diversity of clinical cases.
7. Bayero University Kano — Department of Nursing Science
Kano State
BUK is a major institution in northern Nigeria, and its nursing programme is affiliated with Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital — one of the largest and best-equipped hospitals in the north. Graduates are in high demand across the region.
8. University of Port Harcourt — Department of Nursing Science
Rivers State
UNIPORT’s nursing programme is strong, particularly given its proximity to the oil and gas industry, where occupational health nursing is a significant employer. The University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital provides the clinical backbone of the programme.
9. Lagos State University (LASU) — Department of Nursing Science
Lagos State
LASU offers a competitive B.Sc. Nursing programme with clinical training at LASUTH (Lagos State University Teaching Hospital). Its location in Lagos gives students access to one of the busiest urban healthcare environments in Africa.
10. Nnamdi Azikiwe University — Department of Nursing Science
Anambra State
UNIZIK has grown impressively over the years. Its nursing programme benefits from affiliation with the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital in Nnewi, and the faculty has worked hard to modernise the curriculum in line with current global nursing standards.
11. School of Nursing, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH)
Lagos State
This is one of the most competitive Schools of Nursing (diploma-level) in the entire country. Attached directly to LUTH, the clinical exposure is extraordinary. Many nurses who trained here have gone on to work in the UK, the US, Canada, and the Middle East. Getting in is tough, but the payoff is real.
12. School of Nursing, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan
Oyo State
UCH Ibadan’s School of Nursing has a long and distinguished history. The quality of training here is consistently excellent, and the sheer volume and variety of clinical cases at UCH give students an edge over peers from smaller institutions.
13. School of Nursing, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu
Enugu State
UNTH Enugu runs one of the more respected diploma nursing programmes in the South-East. The hospital’s specialised units — particularly in surgery and medicine — give students clinical exposure that is difficult to replicate elsewhere.
14. School of Nursing, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital
Kano State
The School of Nursing at AKTH is a pillar of nursing education in northern Nigeria. It consistently produces well-trained nurses who are absorbed into both public and private healthcare across the north and beyond.
15. School of Nursing, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTHC)
Osun State
This diploma-level school benefits directly from the resources of the teaching hospital. Students rotate through the various specialised units of OAUTHC throughout their training, building both technical skills and clinical judgment.
16. School of Nursing, National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi
Lagos State
This is a unique institution. The National Orthopaedic Hospital Igbobi is one of the premier orthopaedic hospitals in West Africa, and nurses trained here develop exceptional skills in musculoskeletal care, rehabilitation nursing, and perioperative nursing.
17. School of Nursing, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)
Enugu State
ESUT’s nursing programme has grown in reputation over the years. Its teaching hospital provides students with solid clinical grounding, and the academic staff includes practitioners with extensive real-world experience.
18. College of Nursing Sciences, Kaduna
Kaduna State
One of the more established nursing schools in the North-West, the College of Nursing Sciences in Kaduna has trained generations of nurses who now serve across the region and beyond.
19. School of Nursing, Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH)
Plateau State
JUTH’s nursing school is well-regarded in the North-Central zone. The teaching hospital handles a wide range of cases, and students benefit from clinical postings in multiple specialised units.
20. School of Nursing, Federal Medical Centre, Ido-Ekiti
Ekiti State
This federal government-backed institution has steadily built a good reputation in the South-West. The school is NMCN-accredited and maintains a structured training programme with clinical exposure at the medical centre.
21. University of Calabar — Department of Nursing Science
Cross River State
UNICAL’s nursing department is affiliated with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) and offers a solid B.Sc. programme. Graduates from here have a good track record in both the local job market and international licensing examinations.
22. Delta State University — Department of Nursing Science
Delta State
DELSU’s nursing programme is growing in quality and recognition. The clinical training is supported by the Delta State University Teaching Hospital in Oghara, and the faculty has continued to improve both content and delivery.
23. Niger Delta University — Department of Nursing
Bayelsa State
NDU’s nursing department offers training with a focus on community and public health nursing that is particularly relevant given the environmental health challenges of the Niger Delta region.
24. School of Nursing, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH)
Edo State
UBTH runs a separate diploma-level nursing school alongside UNIBEN’s degree programme. The school benefits from the hospital’s considerable resources and handles a patient population that gives students exposure to a wide spectrum of clinical conditions.
25. School of Nursing, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital
Sokoto State
This school serves the far north-west of Nigeria and provides NMCN-accredited training with clinical support from one of the region’s most important federal teaching hospitals.
26. Ebonyi State University — Department of Nursing Science
Ebonyi State
EBSU has developed a respectable nursing programme backed by the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital (formerly FETHA). The programme draws strong faculty, and the clinical environment is continually improving.
27. Imo State University — Department of Nursing
Imo State
IMSU’s nursing department has produced many nurses who are now practising across Nigeria and internationally. The clinical training is anchored by the Imo State University Teaching Hospital.
28. School of Nursing, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital
Edo State
Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital is known particularly for its management of Lassa fever and other infectious diseases. Nurses trained here gain a very distinctive clinical competence, especially in infection control and high-risk disease management.
29. School of Nursing, Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe
Gombe State
This NMCN-accredited school serves the North-East and provides structured training with clinical posting at the federal teaching hospital. It plays an important role in building nursing capacity for a historically underserved region.
30. Bingham University — Department of Nursing Science
Nasarawa State
Bingham University, a faith-based private institution, has built a nursing programme with a strong community health and ethical dimension. The quality of pastoral care that its graduates bring to clinical practice has been noted by many employers.
31. School of Nursing, Plateau State Specialist Hospital
Plateau State
This institution has a long history of nursing education in the North-Central region. Clinical training at the specialist hospital is thorough, and the school has maintained consistent NMCN accreditation.
32. Madonna University — Department of Nursing Science
Anambra/Rivers State
Madonna University is one of the private universities in Nigeria where nursing is taken seriously. The programme is NMCN-accredited, and students benefit from well-maintained simulation labs and clinical postings in affiliated hospitals.
33. Afe Babalola University — Department of Nursing Science
Ekiti State
ABUAD has invested heavily in health sciences. Its nursing department has modern facilities, and clinical training is conducted through the Afe Babalola University Multi-System Hospital. For those who can afford the tuition, this is one of the better private university options.
34. School of Nursing, National Hospital, Abuja
FCT — Abuja
The School of Nursing at the National Hospital, Abuja, benefits from being in one of Nigeria’s most advanced and well-funded federal hospitals. Exposure to tertiary-level care in a well-resourced environment gives graduates a strong foundation for practice.
35. School of Nursing, Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano
Kano State
This state government-run specialist hospital operates a nursing school that has been producing competent nurses for decades. It remains one of the more respected institutions in the Kano health education landscape.
36. School of Nursing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi
Anambra State
Separate from the university department, NAUTHNN runs its own NMCN-accredited diploma school. The specialist hospital environment — particularly its strong cardiac and renal units — gives students exposure to critical care nursing early in their training.
37. Achievers University — Department of Nursing Science
Ondo State
Achievers University is a relatively newer private institution, but it has developed a credible nursing programme. Clinical training is conducted through affiliated hospitals in the region.
38. Igbinedion University — Department of Nursing
Edo State
IUO runs a nursing programme that has steadily earned recognition. Clinical training partnerships with hospitals in Benin City supplement what is available on campus.
39. School of Nursing, Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Yaba
Lagos State
This is a highly specialised institution. Nurses trained here gain expertise in psychiatric and mental health nursing that is in increasing demand across Nigeria and internationally. The school is one of the few in the country with such a focused psychiatric nursing orientation.
40. School of Nursing, Psychiatric Hospital Uselu
Edo State
Similar to the Yaba institution, the Psychiatric Hospital Uselu school produces nurses with specialised mental health training. Given the growing awareness of mental health issues in Nigeria, this specialisation is becoming increasingly valuable.
41. Godfrey Okoye University — Department of Nursing
Enugu State
GO University, a Catholic institution, has developed a nursing programme with a strong ethical and community orientation. It is accredited and has produced nurses who have gone on to work in various healthcare settings.
42. Tansian University — Department of Nursing Science
Anambra State
Tansian University is a lesser-known private institution, but its nursing programme is NMCN-listed and offers solid foundational training. A good option for students in the South-East looking for alternatives to the more competitive federal universities.
43. School of Nursing, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital
Ekiti State
This school provides NMCN-accredited nursing education with clinical training embedded in the teaching hospital. The school has grown in capacity, and its clinical rotations cover a range of specialities.
44. School of Nursing, Rivers State University Teaching Hospital
Rivers State
RSUTH runs a nursing school that gives students training in a major South-South teaching hospital. The diversity of clinical cases and the hospital’s ongoing development make this a solid option for nursing education in the region.
45. Redeemer’s University — Department of Nursing
Osun State
Redeemer’s University has invested meaningfully in its health sciences faculty. The nursing programme benefits from a structured curriculum and clinical partnerships with hospitals in Osun and Lagos states.
46. School of Nursing, Osun State University Teaching Hospital
Osun State
This state government-backed school provides training in one of the growing teaching hospitals in the South-West. It is a credible option for students in Osun State and the surrounding area.
47. School of Nursing, Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi State
This school serves the far north-west and is one of the few NMCN-accredited institutions in that zone. It plays a critical role in building nursing capacity in a region where healthcare access remains a significant challenge.
48. School of Nursing, Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja
Kogi State
Located in the North-Central zone, the FMC Lokoja nursing school trains students who serve a large confluence-state population. The school maintains consistent standards, and its graduates are regularly absorbed into both public and private healthcare.
49. School of Nursing, Sacred Heart Hospital Lantoro
Ogun State
This Catholic mission hospital has run a nursing school for many decades. There is a warmth and discipline to the training here that former students consistently speak about. It is one of those institutions where the values are as strong as the clinical skills.
50. School of Nursing, Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia
Abia State
FMC Umuahia’s nursing school rounds out this list. The South-East is well-served by this institution, and the school’s NMCN accreditation ensures that graduates can sit for licensing examinations without complications.
How to Know If a Nursing School Is Accredited in Nigeria
This is not optional information — it is critical. Before you submit any application or pay any fee, visit the NMCN website or call their office in Abuja to confirm that the school is currently accredited. Accreditation can be withdrawn, and some schools operate in grey areas. Do not assume. Verify.
Also, check whether the school runs an approved intake year. NMCN accreditation sometimes covers specific admission cycles, so a school accredited in one year may not have approval to admit the following year. It sounds bureaucratic — because it is —, but it is the Nigerian reality, and knowing this could save you years of frustration.
Nursing School vs. University Nursing Programme — What Is the Real Difference?
People argue about this all the time, and the honest answer is: it depends on where you want to go.
The diploma route through hospital-based Schools of Nursing is faster — three years versus four or five — and gets you into practice quicker. Many of the nurses currently working in the UK, Ireland, Canada, and Australia came through this route and wrote their international licensing exams (NCLEX, NMC CBT) successfully.
The degree route, on the other hand, gives you more academic depth. If you want to teach nursing, go into research, move into healthcare management, or pursue a master’s or PhD, a B.Sc. is a better foundation. Many international employers, particularly in North America, are also increasingly favouring degree-educated nurses.
Neither path is wrong. Be honest with yourself about your long-term goals.
What Employers and International Licensing Bodies Actually Look For
If you have ever thought about working abroad as a nurse — and many Nigerian nurses do, and there is no shame in that — here is what matters most beyond your certificate:
Your clinical hours. The UK’s NMC and the US NCLEX both scrutinise the number and quality of your clinical practice hours. Schools attached to major teaching hospitals give you an advantage here because the patient volumes are higher and the case diversity is broader.
Your English language proficiency. Both IELTS (for UK/Canada/Australia) and TOEFL (for US programmes) will be required. Start preparing early.
Your transcript and academic record. The quality of the institution matters when foreign licensing bodies assess your credentials. Institutions like LUTH School of Nursing, UCH School of Nursing, and the university nursing departments at UI, UNILAG, and OAU carry recognised names internationally.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a nursing school is one of the most important decisions of your career, and the list above should give you a real and honest starting point. Do not simply go where admission is easiest. Think about the clinical environment, the faculty, the accreditation status, and what you want your nursing career to look like in ten years.
The demand for nurses — both in Nigeria and globally — is not going anywhere. If anything, it is intensifying. Train well, and the opportunities will follow.
Good luck.
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