The Oyo State College of Nursing Sciences, Eleyele, Ibadan, has inaugurated four new Faculties, a move aimed at strengthening nursing education and consolidating the institution’s collegiate status.
The inauguration, held on Tuesday, saw the former Departments of Nursing, Midwifery, and Public Health elevated into full-fledged faculties: Medical-Surgical Nursing; Maternal & Child Health; Public Health and Community Care; and Psychiatric and Mental Health.
Speaking at the event, the Provost of the College, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi, described the development as a major milestone in the institution’s history and in Nigeria’s nursing profession. She said the restructuring reflects both the College’s longstanding contributions to training nurses and the growing demand for its programmes.
Dr. Owolabi urged the new deans to work diligently to produce world-class graduates, while commending the commitment of the former Heads of Departments, now Deans, for their contributions to the college’s progress.
She also applauded Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for its support, noting that the College is already in talks with the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, to begin collaborative degree programmes.
“This development will foster the growth and expansion of nursing education, benefiting not just the College but also Nigeria’s healthcare sector and the global community,” she said.
Delivering the keynote address, the Pro-Chancellor of LAUTECH, Prof. Ayodeji Omole, described the inauguration as “historic and groundbreaking.” He lauded the College’s bold restructuring, noting that it fills a long-standing gap in Nigeria’s nursing education system, particularly among Colleges of Nursing.
“With these new faculties, the College is at a turning point in nursing education and practice,” Omole declared. He also commended Dr. Owolabi’s resilience and reaffirmed LAUTECH’s commitment to supporting the College’s ambition of running degree-awarding programmes that meet international standards.
