Posted on: Mon 21-07-2025

In recent days, social media and professional circles have erupted in outrage following the exposure of a “statement of result” from Haleema Auxiliary Nursing School, located in Bagoma Birnin Gwari, Kaduna State. The document, issued to a student named Dahiru Musbahu, purports to certify the completion of a one-year program (Dec 2022 – Sept 2023), conferring the award of “Auxiliary Nurse with Distinction.”

However, a closer inspection of the statement, its contents, and the institution behind it has triggered serious questions about credibility, legality, and regulatory oversight, prompting urgent calls for the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) to take decisive action.

A Statement That Fails Every Standard

At face value, the document appears to mimic the format of legitimate transcripts, but beneath the surface lies a troubling picture:

• Over 20 courses, many of which align suspiciously with those taught in accredited diploma or degree-level nursing programs (e.g., Pharmacology, Anatomy & Physiology II, Medical Nursing, Surgical Nursing, and HIV Control).
• A "Practical" course worth 6 credit units – vague, unsupervised, and unverifiable.
• Every single course (except one) is graded “A”, suggesting either an unrealistic academic performance or outright fabrication.
• The only deviation is “BC” in Microbiology, a nonstandard grade in modern transcript systems.
• The signature and name of the “Examination Officer” appear to be scribbled without standard format, lacking institutional seals, registration numbers, or verification features.

The Problem with "Auxiliary Nurse" Programs

The term “Auxiliary Nurse” itself has long been a controversial and unrecognized designation within Nigeria’s regulated healthcare framework. The NMCN does not accredit or recognize any program officially awarding this title. Yet, dozens of mushroom institutions continue to exploit desperate young Nigerians, offering substandard education that leads to unlicensed, unsafe, and illegal practice.

Institutions like Haleema Auxiliary Nursing School operate in clear violation of: NMCN’s education and training policy, The Nursing and Midwifery Act, and The public trust required in health professions.

Public Outcry: “Who Allowed This to Happen?”

The exposure of this statement has triggered a wave of condemnation across the healthcare sector:

Nurses and midwives express embarrassment at how such schools dilute the integrity of their profession.

Health experts warn of the danger in releasing poorly trained individuals into communities to administer injections, handle emergencies, or offer maternal care.

Parents and students who invested time and money in NMCN-accredited institutions are enraged at how shortcuts like this undermine their effort and sacrifice.

There’s widespread concern that unsuspecting employers, especially private hospitals, may be recruiting such individuals, believing their credentials to be authentic.

What the Council Must Do – Now

• Immediate shutdown of Haleema Auxiliary Nursing School and others like it operating outside the NMCN framework.
• Public blacklisting of unaccredited training institutions.
• Collaboration with security agencies to prosecute owners and administrators issuing fraudulent results or impersonating regulatory approval.
• Update its national directory of accredited nursing and midwifery schools for public access.
• Enforcement of penalties against employers who knowingly hire unlicensed or illegally trained personnel.

No More Silence

The time for silence is over. The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria must act boldly and swiftly to sanitize the system, protect the integrity of nursing, and most importantly, safeguard the lives of Nigerian patients.

As long as institutions like Haleema Auxiliary Nursing School remain unchecked, our healthcare system will continue to suffer from quackery, mediocrity, and preventable harm.

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