Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria says persistent gaps between nursing theory and clinical practice continue to weaken healthcare delivery standards across the country.
Speaking at the closing of the NMCN Leaders Conference in Abuja on Thursday, Director of Nursing Education, Emmanuel Udontre, called for stronger policy support, funding and digital innovation to improve nursing practice nationwide.
Udontre says deficiencies in professional skills, organisational structures and practical training are undermining service quality within Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
“Government, regulatory bodies and educational institutions should ensure nursing education is competency-based, evidence-driven, technology-enabled and aligned with global best practices,” he says.
He urges authorities to adopt digital health solutions such as tele-nursing, artificial intelligence and e-learning to meet evolving healthcare demands.
The NMCN official also calls for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and healthcare facilities through clinical partnership models aimed at bridging the gap between classroom learning and patient care.
According to him, poor implementation of research findings in clinical settings continues to limit healthcare improvements and patient outcomes.
Udontre further advocates greater protection for healthcare workers, improved professional standards and increased awareness to regulate private nursing practice.
The conference, themed “Nursing Education, Research and Practice for Excellent Health Care Delivery in Nigeria,” brings together nursing leaders, policymakers, academics and practitioners from across the country.
Healthcare experts warn that without urgent reforms, Nigeria could struggle to meet rising healthcare demands amid growing pressure on hospitals and medical personnel nationwide.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
Korede Abdullah 
