The history of College of Nursing Sciences, Iyi-Enu, crafted in the spirit and scholarly tone of the esteemed historian, Mr. Dike Ibemesi, a native of Ogidi, Anambra State Nigeria

This History of the College was documented in the words of the eminent historian, Mr. Dike Ibemesi, B.A (Hons) History, UNN 1982.

The College of Nursing Sciences, Iyi-Enu, stands today as a beacon of excellence in nursing education, with deep roots stretching back to the early 20th century, when the seeds of formal medical training were first sown in Igboland. Its history is inextricably linked with the storied past of the Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital, the first hospital in Igboland, established in 1907 by the Church Missionary Society (CMS), and now known as the University on the Niger Teaching Hospital, Iyi-Enu. This historic institution, wholly owned by the Anglican Diocese on the Niger, has been a cradle of medical innovation, education, and Christian compassion for over a century.

The origins of the hospital date back to a humble dispensary initially located at Ozala in Onitsha. It was later relocated to its current site in Iyi-Enu, where it underwent a metamorphosis from a modest mission outpost into a sprawling medical and educational complex. Its transformation into a Teaching Hospital marks a significant milestone in the evolution of healthcare and medical training in Eastern Nigeria.

As a pioneering institution, Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital blazed the trail in medical education by becoming the first hospital in Nigeria to graduate trained midwives, and one of the earliest to initiate structured nurse training. This legacy of firsts began in 1927, a time when formal training for nurses and midwives had not yet been institutionalized in Nigeria. In those early years, young women were recruited to serve as “dressers,” gaining experience through on-the-job training supplemented by occasional classroom lectures. Their dedication and the informal mentorship they received laid the foundation for a more structured nursing education system.

By the early 1930s, Iyi-Enu Mission Hospital took bold steps toward formalizing its training programmes. In response to the Nigerian Medical Service’s newly introduced educational standards for nurses and midwives, the hospital embarked on an ambitious journey to upgrade its training system to meet these national requirements. Through diligent effort and commitment to excellence, the institution achieved official registration as a training school for both nursing and midwifery.

A key figure in this transformation was Sister Ida Hill, who oversaw the Mary Elms Block and served as the first Midwifery Tutor. Under her guidance, the official midwifery training programme commenced in September 1931 with five pioneer pupil-midwives. These trailblazers made history when, on 5th September 1933, they became the first officially qualified midwives in Nigeria, receiving Grade II Midwifery Certificates numbered 1 through 5. Among them, Christiana Koripamo (née Kemmer) holds the honour of being the first entry in the Nigerian Register of Midwives.

The 1952 also witnessed the birth of preliminary general nursing training, laying the groundwork for comprehensive nursing education to meet government requirements for 6 months pre-nursing training. As the decades unfolded, Iyi-Enu’s commitment to nurturing competent, compassionate, and skilled healthcare professionals remained unwavering.

In recognition of its legacy and in alignment with evolving national and global standards in health education, the school eventually transitioned from Iyi-Enu School of Nursing to the College of Nursing Sciences, Iyi-Enu. This transformation reflects not just a change in nomenclature, but a significant elevation in scope, curriculum, and academic recognition. The College now offers Nursing and Midwifery training at the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, fully accredited by relevant regulatory bodies including the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and National Board for Technical Education(NBTE).

Today, the College of Nursing Sciences, Iyi-Enu stands tall as the premier institution for the study of Nursing Sciences in Nigeria, honouring its pioneering legacy while embracing innovation and excellence in healthcare education. It continues to produce generations of dedicated nurses and midwives who serve with professionalism, empathy, and devotion across Nigeria and beyond.