𝐒𝐓. 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒: ...𝘚𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢

𝐒𝐓. 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐖𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐘𝐀𝐋 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐒: 𝐀 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐎𝐟 𝐄𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐮-𝐈𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐚.

...𝘚𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘔𝘪𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢

By: Oriaifoh Godwins

Have you visited St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences, Eidenu-Irrua, in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, recently?

If you haven't, and you are interested in discovering what Nigerians are capable of achieving when vision, determination, innovation and commitment to excellence come together, then a visit to this remarkable institution is highly recommended.

Situated in the serene community of Eidenu, Irrua, St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences is steadily setting a new pace in the training of nurses and midwives, with facilities and learning infrastructure that demonstrate a clear commitment to world-class nursing education.

Indeed, what is emerging in this quiet community is a compelling demonstration that excellence in education is not exclusively the preserve of major cities or foreign institutions. With the right vision, investment and determination, Nigerians can build institutions capable of competing with international standards, even in the most remote areas.

A recent visit to the institution revealed an impressive array of state-of-the-art facilities carefully designed to provide students with a conducive environment for effective learning, practical training and personal development.

Among the outstanding facilities are a well-equipped conference room, a demonstration laboratory for practical nursing instruction, a functional Information and Communication Technology, ICT, department and modern hostel accommodation.

Particularly impressive is the institution's hostel facility, which has the capacity to conveniently  accommodate 1,000 students.

The hostel rooms are fitted with air conditioners, while students also enjoy free Wi-Fi internet connectivity and 24-hour electricity supply.

Beyond the physical infrastructure, the institution has a serene academic environment, an uninterrupted academic calendar and facilities designed to ensure that students receive quality theoretical and practical training. As I go round the facilities in the institution, only one thing came to my mind: 'This is nothing, other than, bringing the world to Eidenu-Irrua'. 

These provisions underscore the institution's determination to create an academic atmosphere where students can concentrate on their studies, develop professional competence and acquire the necessary skills to excel in the nursing and midwifery profession.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌

In a one-on-one interaction with the proprietor and visionary founder of the institution, Bishop Matthew Okpebholo, some profound insights emerged into the philosophy, inspiration and determination behind the establishment of St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences.

His comments revealed that the institution was not established merely to join the growing number of nursing schools in the country, but to create a lasting legacy in the educational and healthcare sectors.

Explaining the philosophy behind the institution's establishment, Bishop Okpebholo disclosed that adequate attention was given to providing the necessary infrastructure before the institution was introduced to prospective students.

In his words:

"We made sure the facilities are on ground, before we started advertising."

This statement speaks volumes about the proprietor's approach to institutional development. Rather than placing publicity ahead of substance, he insisted on putting the necessary facilities in place before inviting students to enrol.

On his decision to establish such an ambitious institution in a rural community, Bishop Okpebholo made another remarkable observation:

"If you don't do something big in the village, then people in the town will not come and join you."

This philosophy appears to have informed the scale of investment in the institution. It is a deliberate demonstration that geographical location should never be a barrier to quality education, innovation and development.

For Bishop Matthew Okpebholo, the village must not remain a place where people merely celebrate the achievements of others in the cities. It should also become a destination where excellence is created, celebrated and experienced.

Perhaps his most profound statement was his emphasis on building a legacy that would outlive its founder.

"In St. Matthews, we believe in big dreams, and if you don't do something that is a legacy, that will live beyond you, then you have not started."

These words capture the vision behind St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences: 'An institution conceived not just for immediate gains, but as a lasting investment in human capital development and the future of healthcare delivery'.

𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐂𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐒𝐀𝐍 𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐄𝐃𝐎 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄

The emergence of an institution of this magnitude in Eidenu, Irrua, is undoubtedly a development worthy of attention.

For Esan Central Local Government Area, it represents another opportunity to strengthen its reputation as a destination for education, investment and human capital development.

It also presents an opportunity for young Nigerians, particularly those interested in pursuing careers in nursing and midwifery, to access a learning environment equipped with modern facilities without necessarily having to travel outside their immediate geographical environment.

More importantly, the institution's presence has the potential to stimulate economic activities, create employment opportunities and attract people and investments to the community.

At a time when Nigeria continues to seek improvements in its healthcare workforce, investments in quality nursing and midwifery education deserve recognition and encouragement.

St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences appears determined to contribute to this important national objective by providing an environment that places a premium on professional training, practical competence and academic excellence.

𝐀 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆

One striking lesson from the St. Matthews experience is that great institutions are not necessarily built in the most popular locations. They are built where people have the courage to dream, the resources to invest and the determination to turn their dreams into reality.

Bishop Matthew Okpebholo has demonstrated that a rural community can become the home of an ambitious educational project with facilities designed to meet contemporary academic needs.

St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences is, therefore, more than just another educational institution in Eidenu, Irrua. It represents a bold statement about what visionary leadership, private-sector investment and indigenous enterprise can accomplish in Nigeria.

For prospective nursing and midwifery students, parents, education stakeholders and investors, a visit to this institution offers an opportunity to appreciate the vision and infrastructure behind the project.

Indeed, if the ambition is to build an institution that will stand the test of time and contribute meaningfully to the future of healthcare education in Nigeria, then St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences has made a statement worth taking seriously.

From Eidenu, Irrua, a big dream is unfolding, and its ambition is to leave a legacy that will speak for generations.

Again, I ask: Have you been to St. Matthews Royal College of Nursing Sciences lately?