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Monday, December 29, 2025, marked a historic and decisive moment for nursing education in Benue State as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) accreditation team conducted a comprehensive resource inspection at the Benue State College of Nursing Sciences, Makurdi.
The high-powered NBTE delegation, led by the Deputy Director of Nursing Services, Nr. Musa Garba, carried out a meticulous assessment of facilities critical to the accreditation of the National Diploma (ND) Nursing Programme. Areas inspected included offices of principal officers, demonstration room, science laboratories, lecture halls, college library and e-library, ICT facilities, as well as the Entrepreneurship Centre.
The exercise commenced with a warm reception by the host institution, led by the Acting Provost, Nr. Mrs. Victoria Gusa, and supported by a distinguished delegation comprising the Chairman of NANNNM, Comr. Nr. Tahav Kershio; the Director of Nursing Services, Benue State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Nr. Emmanuel Akosu; and members of the college’s principal management team.
The visit was further dignified by the arrival of the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ogwuche Ejeh Paul, who formally received the NBTE team. He expressed deep appreciation for their role in strengthening technical and nursing education nationwide and commended the Acting Provost for the remarkable progress achieved within just four months of her appointment. He described reaching the accreditation stage as “not an easy task” and assured the team of the Benue State Government’s readiness to promptly address any recommendations arising from the exercise.
Also present was the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health and Human Services, Dr. Beatrice Tsavmbu, who reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of His Excellency, Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, to the training and development of a highly skilled healthcare workforce for the state.
Additionally, the Acting Chief Librarian of the College, Comr. Richard Iorver Tondo, CLN, personally conducted the accreditation team through all library units, showcasing the available academic materials and digital resources.
A critical component of the visit involved inspection of the college’s primary clinical posting centre at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH). The team was received by the Head of Department, Nursing Services, DDNS Damkor Pius, and later hosted by the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Stephen Hwande. The CMD assured the team of BSUTH’s continued readiness to train nursing students as part of its statutory mandate, appealing for fairness in areas of excellence and understanding in areas requiring improvement.
In his response, the Team Leader, Nr. Musa Garba, commended the quality of the clinical facilities and assured the college management of the team’s objectivity and fairness in its final report.
The accreditation exercise concluded with a debriefing session during which the NBTE team provided preliminary feedback, highlighting key areas for improvement and expressing confidence that the state government would proactively address the observations ahead of any follow-up visit.
The visit represents the culmination of months of strategic reforms, intense preparation, and dedicated leadership under the Acting Provost. It marks a significant step towards integrating the college into the national polytechnic system and ushering in a new era of excellence in healthcare training in Benue State.
