Nigeria introduces a new era of equity in nursing training as President Tinubu approves a centralized internship system for nurses—ending regional bias and boosting standards.
In a move set to reform the entry pathway for Nigerian nurses, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a centralised internship placement system for nursing graduates across the country.
The announcement, made by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), marks a major policy shift aimed at ensuring fairness, transparency, and quality control in the allocation of internship positions for newly qualified nurses.
According to an official circular dated October 27, 2025, and signed by Acting Registrar/CEO, Ndagi Alhassan, the approval was conveyed through the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare.
“The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare has approved the implementation of centralized placement of nurse interns across accredited public health facilities in Nigeria,” the statement read.
The new system mirrors similar centralized frameworks already in use for medical and dental interns under the Federal Ministry of Health, ensuring a unified process across the nation.
The centralized placement seeks to:
Promote merit-based and equitable allocation of internship slots.
Reduce regional disparities in internship access across states.
Enhance the quality of clinical training and supervision in accredited facilities.
By establishing a single portal for applications and placement, the NMCN aims to prevent duplication, reduce bureaucratic delays, and improve oversight of training outcomes.
The Council noted that detailed guidelines on eligibility, timelines, and participating institutions will be made public soon. The directive has been communicated to:
Health Commissioners in all 36 states and the FCT,
Vice-Chancellors of universities with nursing programs,
Chief Medical Directors of public hospitals, and
The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
Stakeholders have praised the development as a step toward strengthening nursing education and aligning internship placements with national manpower needs in healthcare.
Nursing graduates have long faced challenges in securing internship slots, including uneven distribution of placements and lack of transparency in selection. This reform could streamline the process and ensure that qualified graduates begin their professional journey without unnecessary delays.
As the NMCN prepares to roll out the operational details, nursing schools, hospitals, and students alike are encouraged to stay informed and ready for the upcoming application phase.
