NMCN urges policy support, funding to strengthen private nursing practice

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ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has urged stronger policy support, funding, and awareness to promote and regulate private nursing practice nationwide.

Dr. Emmanuel Udontre, Director of Nursing Education, made the call at the closing session of the NMCN Leaders Conference in Abuja. He warned that persistent gaps between nursing theory and clinical practice continue to undermine service quality, citing deficiencies in knowledge, skills, professional values, and organizational structures.

Udontre stressed the adoption of digital health solutions — including e-learning, tele-nursing, and artificial intelligence — to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving healthcare environment. He noted that collaboration among stakeholders remains underutilized, limiting integrated, efficient, and patient-centered healthcare delivery.

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He further underscored the need to strengthen safety and security in healthcare environments to protect workers and ensure uninterrupted service. Inadequate translation of research findings into clinical practice, he said, continues to restrict improvements in outcomes.

“Federal and State Governments, in collaboration with regulatory bodies, should implement the Clinical Partnership/Collaborative model and strengthen linkages between academic institutions and clinical settings to bridge the theory–practice gap,” Udontre stated.

He called for nursing education to be competency-based, evidence-driven, technology-enabled, and aligned with global best practices. He also urged healthcare institutions, regulators, and professional bodies to enforce standardized, criteria-based quality care, while promoting interprofessional collaboration and professional indemnity insurance.

Udontre emphasized the importance of national programmes, stakeholder collaboration, healthcare worker protection, and strategic partnerships to improve delivery outcomes.

The conference, themed “Nursing Education, Research and Practice for Excellent Health Care Delivery in Nigeria: The Position of Nursing Leaders,” brought together nursing leaders, academics, policymakers, and practitioners from across Nigeria and beyond. According to Udontre, the forum provided an opportunity for critical reflection on the state of nursing and the role of leadership in advancing the profession.