…As 930 graduates from Taraba College of Nursing
Taraba State Governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas, has called on newly qualified nurses to see their certificates as a call to service, compassion and professionalism, as the state government intensifies efforts to reposition the Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo as a centre of excellence.
The Governor, who was represented by the Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Bonzena, stated this on Saturday at the 2nd Combined Convocation Ceremony of the College, where 930 graduands from Nursing, Midwifery and related programmes were formally inducted.
Governor Kefas said education remains central to his administration’s “Moving Forward” agenda. “We believe that the future of Taraba depends on what we invest in our people through quality education, skills development, and building institutions capable of producing competent professionals,” he said.
He noted that government’s responsibility goes beyond establishing schools to strengthening them so they can produce graduates who meet societal needs and raise service standards across sectors.
Describing nurses as more than healthcare workers, the Governor said they are often the first to offer comfort to patients and families in difficult moments. “Against this backdrop, your training matters. It directly affects the quality of care our people receive in hospitals, clinics, primary healthcare centres, and community settings,” he told the graduands.
He charged them to uphold the highest ethical standards, treat every patient with dignity and respect, protect confidentiality, work collaboratively with other professionals, and commit to lifelong learning. “Wherever you go, remember that you are ambassadors of this College and the State. Let your conduct, competence, and integrity bring honour to the institution that trained you,” he added.
Governor Kefas assured the College community of continued government support, citing improvements in lecture facilities, equipped laboratories, student accommodation, and strengthened security around the campus. “You will agree with me that your college is second to none in Nigeria in terms of infrastructures and facilities,” he said.
He also expressed optimism about the progress toward the affiliation of the College with Taraba State University to enable the commencement of the Bachelor of Nursing Sciences programme, describing it as key to strengthening healthcare capacity in the state.
The Governor disclosed that he had released funds to prepare the College for the forthcoming resource accreditation exercise by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. “Our goal is not merely approval, it is excellence. Infrastructure is important, but it cannot do the work of committed staff and disciplined students,” he said.
Governor Kefas commended the Chairman and members of the Governing Council and the College Management for their leadership.
To parents, he said: “Thank you for supporting these students with time, resources, and encouragement.” To graduands: “Your certificates are not just documents, they are a responsibility.”
Earlier in her remarks, the Provost of the College, Dr. Dorcas Dugule, congratulated the 930 graduands and thanked parents and guardians for their sacrifices. “Today, this hall holds the sounds of promises being kept… Their faith is the floor beneath everything we celebrate today,” she said.
Dr. Dugule urged the new nurses to hold fast to compassion, integrity, confidentiality and teamwork, stressing that “patients recover faster when we work as one big family.”
She commended Governor Kefas for massive infrastructure development at the College including new lecture halls, skills laboratories, hostels and perimeter fencing, and for his commitment to reviving abandoned projects.
The Provost, however, appealed for government intervention in three areas she described as critical. On security, she noted that the College sits on a large expanse of land which provides room for growth but also exposes students and staff to risk, especially during night clinical activities. She therefore requested additional security personnel, patrol support, and security gadgets to protect both the College community and the facilities on ground.
On staffing, Dr. Dugule said the expansion of academic programmes and the rising student intake have stretched the current staff strength. She appealed for urgent approval to recruit more academic and non-academic staff in order to meet the standards set by the NBTE and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
On accreditation, she disclosed that the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria has scheduled a resource accreditation visit to the College. She solicited the state government’s support to ensure that the institution meets every requirement needed for a successful exercise.
She also reported two major milestones: the ongoing affiliation process with Taraba State University for a degree programme in Nursing Sciences, and progress toward providing utility vehicles for Principal Officers as stipulated by NBTE.
The event drew top government functionaries including the Secretary to the State Government, Chief G.T. Kataps, Head of Service Dr. Hamidu Ahmed Kara, Commissioner for Tertiary Education Dr. Mike Dio Jen, members of the College Governing Council, traditional rulers, parents and stakeholders in the health sector.
