Novena University in Ogume, Delta State, has received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to begin Postgraduate Diploma, Master of Science and Ph.D. programmes in Nursing and Medical Laboratory Science. The approval means the private university can now train health professionals at the highest academic levels, a gap many Nigerian nurses and lab scientists have had to travel abroad to fill. Admission into the new programmes starts immediately, with classes set to begin in the 2026/2027 academic session at the university's Amai Campus.
Background
The NUC's approval came through a letter dated September 11, 2026, signed by Abubakar Girei, Director of Academic Planning, on behalf of the Executive Secretary. It followed a resource verification exercise in which Novena University was found to meet requirements across faculty strength, laboratories, library resources, clinical postings and research facilities.
Founded in 2005 as the first private university in Delta State, Novena University already holds full accreditation for its undergraduate Nursing (B.N.Sc.) and Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) programmes, with graduates recognized by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria. Over the years, it has expanded into a full health sciences university, offering accredited programmes in Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Optometry, Public Health, Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology, alongside Law, Management and the Natural Sciences.
What the University Is Saying
Vice-Chancellor Professor Godwin Chukuenweniwe Nduka called the approval a validation of the university's two decades of investment in healthcare education, saying it would allow Novena to train specialists, researchers and consultants who can “strengthen Nigeria's health system and remain globally competitive.”
Registrar Reverend Linus Ilogho, who has been with the institution since its early days, described the milestone as proof of consistent compliance with regulatory standards over the years. Professor Charles Ofili, Provost of the College of Medical and Health Sciences, pointed to a more practical benefit: Nigeria has long lost qualified nurses and lab scientists to postgraduate programmes abroad, and this approval gives them a credible option at home, backed by the university's labs, simulation suites and affiliated teaching hospitals.
Why It Matters
For working nurses and medical laboratory scientists looking to advance their careers without leaving the country, this opens a new pathway. The postgraduate school is now accepting enquiries for the 2026/2027 session. University officials say the qualifications are designed to meet international standards, positioning graduates for opportunities both within Nigeria and abroad.
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