The Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Eleyele, Ibadan, has inaugurated four new faculties as part of its strategic repositioning to meet the rising demand for nursing education and consolidate its collegiate status.
The inauguration, held on Tuesday, marked what stakeholders described as a watershed moment in the evolution of the institution. The former Departments of Nursing, Midwifery and Public Health have now been elevated into full-fledged faculties of Medical Surgical; Maternal and Child Health; Public Health and Community Care; and Psychiatric and Mental Health.
Provost of the College, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi, said the restructuring underscores the institution’s long-standing contribution to nursing education in Nigeria and its growing relevance in the health sector.
“This framework is a milestone, not just for our College but for the nursing profession at large,” she declared. Dr. Owolabi charged the newly-appointed deans to work assiduously towards producing globally competitive graduates, while commending them for their years of dedication as former heads of departments.
She expressed gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for his administration’s consistent support, adding that the College had initiated discussions with the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, towards commencing degree-awarding programmes.
“Our vision is to expand the frontiers of nursing education so that our products can serve not only Nigeria, but the global healthcare community,” she said.
Delivering the keynote address, Pro-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Prof. Ayodeji Omole, hailed the inauguration as a “historic and groundbreaking development,” noting that the move addresses a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s nursing education.
“With this bold restructuring, the College will experience a turning point in nursing education and practice,” he said. Commending Dr. Owolabi for her resilience, Prof. Omole reaffirmed LAUTECH’s readiness to collaborate with the College to ensure its degree programmes align with international standards.
Stakeholders at the event described the development as a progressive step that will not only strengthen healthcare delivery in Oyo State but also enhance Nigeria’s capacity to train world-class nurses.
