A professor of Nursing and dean of School of Nursing Sciences at Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Christiana Sowunmi, has stressed the importance of Nigeria strengthening the nursing education at all levels.
She said this is imperative because of the great roles being played by nursing professionals in today’s evolving healthcare systems.
According to her, “Nursing is more than a profession – it is a calling.
Nurses, she observed, serve not only as caregivers, but as educators, advocates, and collaborators, and without them, the healthcare system cannot function.
The don emphasised that the nursing profession is actually the backbone of patient-centred care, promoting wellness and providing support across all health conditions and age groups.
Sowunmi shared this thought and perspective as a guest lecturer at a recent public lecture organised by the Faculty of Nursing Sciences, Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos.
She presented a paper on a topic, ‘Proliferation of Nursing Training Institutions in Nigeria: The Perceived Gains and Pains.’
While she acknowledged the rapid rise in the number of nursing training institutions in the country in recent years, she described this development as “a double-edged sword.”
According to her, while the proliferation opens up opportunities for aspiring nurses and addresses workforce shortages on one hand, it also brings challenges in terms of quality assurance, infrastructure, and regulatory oversight, on the other hand.
Speaking on the gains, opportunities and growth, the don highlighted key benefits of nursing education expansion in the country.
She stated that the expansion would increase opportunities for aspiring nurses to seek knowledge and acquire requisite skills to join the workforce.
Sowunmi, however, observed that Nigerian-trained nurses are increasingly sought after globally, attributing the development to their high level of adaptability and resilience despite being confronted with myriads of socio-economic challenges.
On challenges, the guest lecturer highlighted issues of inadequate faculty, poor infrastructure, limited clinical exposure, inadequate teaching aids, simulation labs and experienced educators.
She noted that these challenges often make quality control in terms of compliance with national and international standards practice somehow difficult.
The guest lecturer, however, proffered a way out that could help Nigeria navigate the various challenges.
These, according to her, include putting up regular accreditation and quality assurance measures, increase in investment in clinical facilities and simulation laboratories, and engage in workforce planning to ensure numbers of trainees align with actual employment needs.
There is also the need for financial aid and scholarship programmes for nursing students in the promotion of research and innovation within the profession.
She said doing all these would greatly help Nigeria strengthen its nursing education for the betterment of all.
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In his welcome address earlier, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Clement Kolawole expressed delight that the university is consistent in holding public lectures as envisioned.
He noted that this latest edition organised by the Faculty of Nursing Science is the third in the series as the Faculty of Basic, Medical and Applied Sciences as well as the Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences had held theirs previously.
He appreciated the guest lecturer particularly for taking up the role, noting that her view and thought would give a fresh knowledge and ideas on the subject matter.
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