REPORT ON THE PRE-ACCREDITATION/ADVISORY VISIT BY THE NURSING AND

MIDWIFERY COUNCIL OF NIGERIA TO THE DEPARTMENT OF NURSING SCIENCES,

FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF LAFIA THAT HELD ON 11TH-13TH OCTOBER, 2023

The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) was at the Federal University of Lafia

on a pre-accreditation/advisory visit, the team led by Dr. Ahmed Sa’idu arrived at the university

at about 9:08 am on the 11th of October, 2023. The team was received by the Vice-Chancellor

(VC) represented by the Director of Academic Planning (DAP).

The team lead states the purpose of the visit to VC, that the NMCN undertook the pre-

accreditation/advisory visit to the university with the primary objectives to;

 Assess Readiness: Evaluate the university's infrastructure, curriculum, faculty, and

resources, ensuring they align with the NMCN's standards for nursing and midwifery

programs.

 Quality Assurance: Examine the quality of education provided to students, ensuring it is

of a standard that produces competent and skilled nursing and midwifery professionals.

 Guidance: Offer expert advice and feedback on areas needing improvement, helping the

university bridge any gaps before a full accreditation visit.

 Stakeholder Collaboration: Strengthen the collaborative relationship between NMCN

and the university, fostering a shared commitment to excellence in nursing and midwifery

education in Nigeria.

The vice Chancellor afterward welcomed the NMCN team to the university by saying it is both

an honor and a privilege to warmly welcome the team to the University on this significant

occasion of the pre-accreditation/advisory visit. The VC said the realm of healthcare,

particularly nursing and midwifery, is a critical pillar of our society, bearing the weight of public

health and well-being. He further states that as educators, the university shares the monumental

responsibility of molding future nurses and midwives, ensuring they are both knowledgeable and
compassionate professionals, ready to serve the nation. The VC reiterated that the University

values the importance of such a pre-accreditation process, for it is not just a pathway to formal

recognition but a catalyst for introspection, improvement, and innovation in our educational

endeavors. The VC again told the team that their advisory insights will no doubt help shape the

future direction of the nursing and midwifery programs, ensuring that they remain contemporary,

relevant, and aligned with global standards. The VC affirmed to the NMCN’s team that while the

university takes pride in its achievements so far, it also remains a humble learner, eager to

receive guidance, feedback, and recommendations. He finally extended a heartfelt welcome to

each one of the team members and expressed his gratitude for NMCN’s commitment to elevating

the standards of healthcare education in Nigeria.

TOUR TO THE UNIVERSITY MAIN AND COLLEGE LIBRARIES

The NMCN's team conducted a physical tour of the main library of the University as well as the

college library to inspect the library's resources, facilities, and relevance to nursing and

midwifery education. The team assessed the nursing and midwifery books, journals, and

publications, electronic database access, and digital resources. The team applauds the university

for the main library being spacious, well-ventilated, and conducive to study. However, the team

complains that many of the collection of nursing and midwifery books are outdated editions. The

library possesses few journals specifically related to nursing and midwifery.

VISIT TO STUDENTS' ACCOMMODATION

Both the male and female accommodations were visited by the NMCN's team, the team

commended the University for the well-structured and maintained accommodation, especially

the female site. The team was happy to see entry and exit points are monitored to ensure student

safety, regular cleaning schedules are maintained, ensuring a hygienic environment for the

students.

VISIT TO THE BIOCHEMISTRY LABORATORY

The HoD of Biochemistry leads the team to the Biochemistry laboratory equipped with essential

instruments necessary for biochemistry experiments and research, with devices like

spectrophotometers, centrifuges, and pH meters in functional condition. The team shows

concerns about the limited space within the laboratory, while the layout is organized, the

confined space makes it challenging for both movement and conducting multiple experiments

simultaneously. The HoD further said that the laboratory endeavors to align its practical sessions

with the nursing curriculum.

COURTESY VISIT TO THE PROVOST, COLLEGE OF MEDICINE.

The Provost, represented by the Deputy Provost warmly welcomes the NMCN's team to the

College of Medicine, saying their presence signifies our collective commitment to excellence in

nursing and midwifery education. He further says the pre-accreditation/advisory visit serves as

an important milestone in the University’s pursuit of academic distinction, ensuring the

institution aligns with the best practices and standards set by the NMCN. The Provost again says

he is confident that this collaboration will foster growth, identify areas of improvement, and set

us on a path of mutual benefit for our students, college, and the broader healthcare community.

INSPECTION OF THE STAFF AND OFFICES

The NMCN team inspected the Academic and Non-academic staff and their offices and noted

that the department demonstrated a significant lack of essential office utilities, and said this

inadequacy could impede the smooth functioning and administrative tasks, potentially affecting

the delivery of quality education and training to nursing students. Also, the team complains of

the noticeable shortfall in the number of senior lecturers, where they further insist that the

presence of experienced Senior lecturers is paramount to ensuring that students receive the

highest quality of education and training, thereby meeting the standards set by the NMCN.

Again, the team observed that the department is plagued by inconsistent and unreliable power

supply which could hamper practical sessions, research activities, and daily administrative
functions, creating a challenging environment for both students and staff. The team also noted

the absence of a dedicated examination officer’s office and recommended one.

NURSING, MIDWIFERY, AND COMMUNITY DEMONSTRATION LABS

The team was at the Nursing, Midwifery, and Community Health Demonstration Labs to inspect

the equipment and instruments, they commended the University management for equipping the

Labs, however, they said the laboratory possesses limited stock, with a shortage of essential

equipment and tools required for comprehensive nursing, midwifery, and community health

training. They also commented that the laboratory's space is restrictive, limiting movement and

curtailing the capacity for effective demonstrations and practical sessions. The team specifically

noted that the nursing Lab does not have a defibrillator and a separate mannequin dedicated to it,

which is not just a piece of equipment but an essential tool for holistic nursing education,

blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills and instilling a sense of responsibility and

readiness in future healthcare professionals, the team lead reiterated that, in a nursing

demonstration laboratory, having a defibrillator can be beneficial in several ways, example, it

can help students learn how to use the device and respond to cardiac emergencies as well as

providing an opportunity for students to practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and

defibrillation techniques in a safe and controlled environment.

VISIT TO THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY LABORATORIES

The team visited the Anatomy and Physiology laboratories, at the Anatomy Lab, the virtual

anatomy table, which serves as an advanced tool for visualizing and understanding human

anatomy was found to be nonfunctional. This is a concerning limitation, as the virtual table

provides interactive learning, aiding in the comprehension and retention of anatomical

knowledge to nursing students, the team said. The team recommended that the table should be in

a functional state before the next accreditation visit.

VISIT TO DALHATU ARAF SPECIALIST HOSPITAL, LAFIA, AND

COMPREHENSIVE PRIMARY HEALTH CARE CENTER, KWANDARE.

The team was received by the Head of Nursing Services at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital

where afterwards she led the team for a courtesy visit to the Medical Director of the Hospital

informing him that the purpose of the pre-accreditation visit was to evaluate the readiness of the

hospital in terms of infrastructure, human resources, and patient care. The NMCN team visited

various wards of the hospital, including male and female surgical wards, Male and Female

Medical wards, Pediatrics Surgical and Medical wards, Labour room, ICU, and the maternity

wards. The visit involved a physical inspection of the facilities, and a review of nursing

credentials and training records. During the visit, the team noticed that the nurses at the hospital

were not using a Green Book and further recommended that.

From the team’s observations, the Comprehensive Primary Health Care Center Kwandare

demonstrates a commitment to providing quality healthcare in a clean and organized

environment, because the positive response from the pre-accreditation team indicates that the

center aligns with the standards and expectations set by the NMCN

EXIT BRIEFING

The NMCN’s pre-accreditation team thanks the university management for the superb reception

and their cooperation throughout the exercise period, the team promises to communicate back all

their recommendations officially to the university promptly.

The Vice Chancellor who was again represented by the DAP expressed his profound gratitude

for the meticulous and constructive pre-accreditation exercise conducted by the NMCN's

evaluation team. The VC says evaluations provide the university with invaluable insights,

allowing it to continually elevate the standards of the university’s academic offerings and

institutional practices. He further assured the NMCN team that the management would take note

of every recommendation put forth. He says the University is resolutely committed to enhancing
the quality of our nursing and midwifery programs, as such, we will act promptly and decisively

on each recommendation, ensuring that our programs not only meet but exceed the standards set

by the NMCN, the VC reiterated.

Recommendations:

 The library should update its collection of nursing and midwifery books and journals to

include the latest editions and research findings.

 Set up a separate dedicated departmental library that allows for more focused collection

of nursing and midwifery.

 More male students' accommodation be provided.

 Expansion of the current Biochemistry laboratory space or consider its relocation to a

larger area to accommodate the number of nursing students.

 Increase the stock of essential tools and equipment tailored for nursing, midwifery, and

community health demonstration laboratories.

 Consider expanding the current space of the nursing, midwifery, and community health

demonstration laboratories or relocating them to a larger area.

 Steady power supply to the department.

 Dedicated separate examination officer’s office with a fireproof cabinet

 The Virtual Anatomy table to be in a functional state before the next accreditation visit.

Adamu Yakubu