930 Nurses Graduate as Taraba College of Nursing Holds Combined Convocation

By Nick Yashi, Jalingo

The Taraba State College of Nursing Sciences, Jalingo, celebrated the graduation of 930 students during its 2nd Combined Convocation ceremony on Saturday at the school premises in the state capital.

Provost of the institution, Dr. Mrs. Dorcas Dugule, described the graduates as professionals who have earned their place in one of the world's most demanding and essential fields.

"We graduate 930 students across our nursing, midwifery, and other related programmes young men and women who have earned the right to be called professional colleagues," she stated.

Dugule charged the graduands to uphold the ethics of the profession, urging them to prioritize compassion, integrity, confidentiality, lifelong learning, and teamwork.

Commending Governor Agbu Kefas for his educational reforms, the Provost highlighted her administration's achievements, including the institution's affiliation with Taraba State University to commence a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences degree programme.

"Your commitment to the health and education sectors is evident in the massive infrastructure development we are witnessing in this college. New lecture halls, skills laboratories, hostels, and perimeter fencing are testaments of your 'moving forward' agenda," she said.

However, Dugule appealed for improved security at the institution, noting that the campus sits on a large expanse of land that, while supporting growth, exposes students and staff during night-shift clinical activities.

"We request additional security personnel, patrol support, and gadgets that can protect equipment and facilities we have on ground," she pleaded.

She also called for additional staffing to accommodate rising student intake and government support toward the upcoming accreditation by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

Governor Agbu Kefas, represented by Speaker of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Bonzena, congratulated the graduates.

"In the past, we scouted for nurses to come and work in Taraba, but now we have a good number that have graduated," he said.

Kefas noted that the government had invested significantly in restoring the college's glory through massive infrastructure development and urged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the institution.