The Kaduna State House of Assembly has passed a bill to establish a Post-Nursing Sciences School in Rigasa, Kaduna, to give nursing graduates opportunities to advance their education.
The bill was passed after the Chairman, House Committee on Health and Judiciary, Barnaba Haruna, presented a report that the House adopted.
Speaking with journalists after the bill's passage, Haruna, who also represents Kachia Constituency, said the proposed institution would enable nursing graduates and other qualified health professionals to further their studies without necessarily leaving the state.
He said the initiative aimed to address the challenges graduates faced when they had to travel outside Kaduna to pursue advanced studies in their chosen fields.
According to him, establishing the institution would expand access to further education for the state’s growing population of young people interested in health-related professions.
Haruna said Rigasa was considered suitable for the institution because of its large population, adding that the location would help meet residents' educational needs.
He said the committee recommended giving qualified candidates from Kaduna priority in admission, while allowing applicants from other states to benefit from the institution.
The lawmaker stressed that admission should be strictly merit-based, with candidates required to meet the prescribed academic qualifications and pass the relevant examinations.
“Who knows who” should not determine admission, he said, emphasising that candidates should be admitted based on their academic performance and capacity.
The lawmaker urged parents to encourage their children to pursue nursing and other health-related courses, describing the proposed institution as an opportunity for graduates seeking to advance their careers.
He also encouraged nursing graduates who had completed their initial training to take advantage of the institution when it becomes operational.
The lawmaker said the initiative reflected the state government’s commitment to prioritising healthcare development, noting that Gov. Uba Sani had consistently emphasised the importance of the health sector.
He expressed optimism that the proposed institution would create further educational opportunities for young people and strengthen the development of health professionals in the state.
Similarly, the Deputy Chief Whip of the assembly, Mahmud Lawal, said the institution would help address the shortage of qualified nurses and midwives in Kaduna State and Nigeria.
According to him, the institution will be the first of its kind in Kaduna and could also attract students from other states.
“The essence of the bill is to establish an institution for post-basic nursing education in Kaduna, particularly in Rigasa, and empower our youths with the necessary qualifications,” he said.
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