Delta State Nursing Colleges ensure merit-based admissions- State Director

…Refutes admission racketeering claims; call for more government support

 

The State Director of Nursing Services, Mrs. Gloria Igumbor, has refuted misleading claims circulating on social media platforms regarding admissions into the Delta State Colleges/Schools of Nursing Sciences, describing such allegations as baseless.

She emphasized that admissions are strictly based on merit and adhere to established standards and processes.

Addressing the press, Igumbor denounced the unfounded reports of corruption and fraud in the admission process, labeling them as spurious and malicious. She clarified that the three Colleges of Nursing Sciences and two Schools of Midwifery in the State maintain integrity in their admission procedures.

Contrary to rumors of ‘cash and carry’ admissions, Igumbor outlined the transparent process which includes form purchase, computer-based entrance examinations, and subsequent screening/interviews. She cautioned the public, especially parents and aspiring nursing students, to be vigilant against fraudulent individuals promising admission in exchange for money.

Highlighting the consequences faced by those who fall victim to such scams, Igumbor stressed the importance of awareness and adherence to legitimate admission channels.

She also called upon the Delta State government to enhance support for the colleges and schools, emphasizing the need for infrastructure expansion to accommodate the growing programs.

The Director expressed shock at the allegations by some platforms to the effect that prospective candidates seeking admission to the State-owned Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Warri, Agbor and Eku as well as Department of Midwifery in Sapele and Asaba, are made to part with as much as N1 million to some persons before they are offered admission.

According to her, Delta State has been proactive in upgrading its nursing education, with several schools transitioning to Colleges of Nursing Sciences offering four-year degree programs. Igumbor disclosed ongoing efforts to upgrade the State School of Midwifery in Sapele to a College of Nursing and Midwifery, underscoring the commitment to advancing nursing education in the region.

“It came to me as a shock to hear that candidate pay as much as N1 million to gain admission into the State Colleges of Nursing Sciences in Agbor, Warri and Eku.  I want say that such thing does not happen.

“Admission into these schools goes through a standard process which has to do with the purchasing of forms, writing entrance examination which is strictly computer-based (CBT). Thereafter, only successful candidates proceed to the screening/interview level.  The fact that you were successful at the CBT does not guarantee that your name will be in the final list. This is because during the screening some will drop for not meeting the requirements”, she explained.

“On the issue of malpractices and extortion, let me say this. Because of the enterprising nature of the profession, some dubious persons are taking advantage to deceive some of our youths, giving them fake promises of admission into the Colleges if Nursing Sciences and Midwifery.

“These things are not true. The processes of admission as I have earlier explained are there. Some youths have fallen victims to these fraudsters in the past and they can attest to the consequences.  This is in spite of our various adverts to the public to beware of some fraudulent persons who are out to deceive the youths that they have the power to give admission. In the past, some of the criminals who were caught were arrested, dealt with and were made to refund monies they collect from unsuspecting admission seekers.

“Some of the youth who fell prey to the fraudsters suffered consequences because they were sent home because the admissions they got were not from the school”, she said.

Igumbor used the occasion to call on the Delta State government to increase its support for the Colleges of Nursing Sciences and School of Midwifery in the State, stressing that there was need for expansion of infrastructure and upgrade of teaching and learning conditions.

According to her, there will be the need to construct more buildings for classrooms to accommodate more students.

“We are also asking the State Governor to give serious attention and support to the schools and build classrooms in these colleges across the state. Because as the approval comes like this, there will be need for expansion in the areas of edifice, buildings and many more to accommodate students”, she further said.

It would be recalled that Delta State is far ahead of other states in the upgrade of the State Schools of Nursing to Colleges of Nursing Sciences which now run four-year Nursing degree programme and thereafter, the graduates proceed to NYSC.  As at the last count, Delta State Schools of Nursing Agbor, Eku and Warri have been upgraded to Colleges of Nursing Sciences.

Our correspondent also learnt that the Director of Nursing Services in the State Mrs. Gloria Igumbor is making frantic effort and reaching out to those in authority in Abuja to approve an upgrade of the State School of Midwifery, Sapele to a College of Nursing and Midwifery.