Towards ensuring quality healthcare delivery to residents, Ogun State government has commenced a three-day screening exercise of candidates for post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), to gain admission into Ogun State College of Nursing.

Fielding questions from newsmen on the exercise, at Ogun State College of Nursing, Abeokuta, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, underscored the importance of nursing in healthcare delivery, stressing that only the best candidates would be admitted, to sustain the standard of the College.

"We are looking for individuals who are passionate about caring for others, who are dedicated and willing to go the extra mile to make a difference in the lives of their patients", she said.

Represented by the Senior Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. Tayo Lawal, the Commissioner said that the screening was the first after the College’s conversion from School of Nursing, expressing satisfaction on the conduct of the exercise.

While addressing journalists, a senior officer in the Department of Nursing Services, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Sherifat Aminu, disclosed that 360 successful candidates would be given admission, based on the quota received from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and National Board on Technical Education, recalling that Ogun State College of Nursing had rolled out post UTME forms online in June, with 2,094 candidates applying.

"Prospective candidates will spend four uninterrupted years with certifications in Ordinary National Diploma (OND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in Nursing; Professional Certificate of Registered Nurse, Registered Midwifery and Public Health Nursing, after which they will be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps", she said.

In their separate interviews, two of the candidates, Omolade Salako said she has always wanted to be a Nurse and the examination had reinforced her determination to pursue her dream, while Balikis Adejimi, expressed confidence in her performance and was hopeful of securing a spot in the College.