The Kwara State College of Nursing Sciences and Midwifery, Oke-Ode, has been thrown into controversy as staff and students accuse the Provost, Mr. Abdulquadri Olanrewaju, of turning the institution into a money-making empire. Allegations range from exam malpractice to outright sale of admissions, with many saying the school no longer operates on merit.
Insiders claim examinations and results are being manipulated to favor certain students with links to the Provost. Some students reportedly boast openly that no matter what happens, they cannot fail because of their “connections.” This atmosphere has created fear and resentment among others, who feel helpless against the system.
But the allegations don’t stop there. The Provost is also accused of tampering with entrance examinations and handpicking candidates for admission, sidelining merit. Staff members allege that he personally compiles names to be forwarded to JAMB, shutting out qualified students who cannot “settle.”
Parents and students further allege that the Provost and his allies demand bribes ranging from N50,000 to N100,000 before results are released or progression is granted. In one heartbreaking case, a petty trader reportedly borrowed money from a microfinance bank to pay the so-called “clearance fee,” only for her daughter’s result to be later changed from “pass” to “fail.”
When the corruption caught the attention of the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s zonal representative, the extortion fee was reduced to N50,000. Still, this adjustment did little to ease the pain of struggling families already drowning under financial pressure.
The institution, once envisioned as a centre of excellence for training morally upright and competent nurses, is now being described by insiders as a hub of bribery, forgery, and manipulation. Many argue that the rot stems from the controversial appointment of Olanrewaju in 2022, despite not holding a Nursing degree as required by law.
Although multiple petitions and evidence have surfaced against him, the government panel investigating the matter allegedly cleared him after asking him to simply sign an agreement to “work peacefully” with staff. Stakeholders see this as a political cover-up, leaving the future of the institution and its students uncertain.
