Picnews
Dauda Lawal has approved N3.2 billion for the renovation, accreditation, and resumption of academic activities at the Zamfara State School of Nursing and Health Sciences in Zurmi Local Government Area, marking a major boost for the state’s healthcare education sector after years of neglect and infrastructural decay.
The approval, confirmed in an official statement, will cover the rehabilitation of lecture halls, administrative buildings, student hostels, and practical laboratories to meet modern educational standards. The funds will also be used to settle regulatory requirements and implement curriculum upgrades in line with the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, paving the way for the institution to regain accreditation and admit students for the first time in over five years.
Government officials disclosed that the institution will focus on programmes in general nursing, midwifery, and community health as part of efforts to strengthen healthcare manpower development across the state. The Zamfara State Commissioner for Health described the intervention as a significant milestone, noting that the school had remained largely inactive for nearly a decade due to deteriorating infrastructure and loss of accreditation.
According to the Commissioner, the initiative goes beyond rebuilding a school, stressing that it is aimed at restoring the foundation of primary healthcare delivery in Zamfara. He noted that the shortage of trained nurses and community health workers has continued to affect healthcare services across the state, adding that the investment would help reverse the trend.
Residents of Zurmi and prospective students have welcomed the development with excitement, expressing optimism over the reopening of the institution after years of uncertainty. Dauda Lawal reiterated his administration’s commitment to improving access to quality healthcare and education across all 14 local government areas, emphasizing that students from Zurmi should not have to travel long distances to pursue nursing education.
The state government has directed the Ministries of Health and Education to ensure the project is completed within nine months, while accreditation processes are expected to commence before the end of the current fiscal year.
