Experts have urged proprietors of private health institutions to strengthen the quality of healthcare training through strict adherence to standards and improved institutional practices. The call was made during the conference and inauguration of the National Executive Council of the Association of Proprietors of Private Colleges of Health Sciences and Technology in Nigeria (APPCOHEST).
Keynote Address on Strengthening Training
Presenting a paper titled, “Strengthening the training of healthcare personnel, particularly in private institutions,” the Director of Advancement at Kaduna State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Dr Abdul Gali, emphasised the critical role of proprietors in producing competent healthcare professionals. He observed that private college owners have the responsibility to ensure effective administration, sound scientific training, and the integration of technology into healthcare education.
Gali highlighted the challenges confronting both the profession and the business of private health education, while outlining practical solutions to address them. He noted that, contrary to concerns over the absence of laws guiding private health institutions, Nigeria already has adequate regulatory frameworks in place, adding that weak enforcement remains the major setback affecting the sector.
Regulatory Frameworks and Enforcement
Gali identified regulatory bodies such as the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), the National Universities Commission (NUC), and other professional organisations as institutions mandated to oversee and regulate training standards. “The issue is not the absence of laws, but poor enforcement of existing regulations, which remains a major challenge in Nigeria,” he said. He urged stakeholders to collaborate with regulatory agencies to ensure compliance, improve training quality, and strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
Strategic Initiatives for Improvement
Also speaking, the National Financial Secretary of the Association of Private Colleges of Health Proprietors of Nigeria (APC-HPN), Dr Yakubu El-Hassan, outlined strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening private health institutions and improving standards across the sector. He explained that his administration would prioritise financial inclusion for member institutions, particularly smaller colleges facing funding challenges.
According to him, plans are underway to establish a microfinance bank that would provide soft loans to less financially stable colleges to enable them to upgrade their facilities and meet accreditation requirements. El-Hassan also disclosed plans to introduce a cooperative society within the association to enable proprietors to access financial support and collaborate effectively.
Synergy Among Proprietors
He emphasised the importance of synergy among proprietors, noting that stronger institutions should support emerging ones rather than engage in unhealthy rivalry. “We want to create a system where established colleges mentor and support upcoming ones financially and technically, instead of working against them,” he said. On standards, he stressed the need to address quack practices within the sector through collaboration with regulatory bodies and the FCT Department of Higher Education.
El-Hassan clarified that while institutions are approved by relevant education authorities, accreditation is course-specific and granted by professional regulatory councils. He warned that institutions operating without proper approval or accreditation would first be sensitised and advised, but persistent defaulters would be reported to the appropriate authorities for enforcement. “We will encourage compliance, but where necessary, we will work with regulatory agencies to clamp down on illegal operations,” he added.
Call for Unity and Collaboration
Also speaking, the President of the Association of Proprietors of Private Colleges of Health Sciences and Technologies in Nigeria, Prof. Elijah Tola, called for unity and collaboration among stakeholders to enhance standards and improve healthcare delivery across the country. He described the event as a milestone in efforts to formally unite private health training institutions under a common platform recognised by law.
Tola explained that the association, now duly registered, would serve as a coordinating body to promote quality, innovation and sustainable development in private health education in Nigeria. According to him, the theme of the gathering, “Enhancing the Quality and Standard of Private Health Institutions for Sustainable Healthcare Delivery in Nigeria,” reflects a shared commitment to raising standards in the sector.
Tola stressed that the vision of improved healthcare training cannot be achieved in isolation, urging members to embrace cooperation rather than competition. He also encouraged members to see themselves as partners working toward a common goal, adding that leadership within the association should be guided by service, mutual respect and a shared vision.
New Era for Private Colleges
In his remarks, the Registrar of the Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, Associate Prof. Bashir Idris, represented by Judith Ewah, described the inauguration as the beginning of a new era for private colleges of health in Nigeria. He expressed optimism that a united front would bring significant transformation to the sector. According to him, the strength of the association lies in its collective resolve to share knowledge, build capacity and drive reforms that will shape the future of healthcare institutions and practitioners in the country.
