On Tuesday, 25th September, 2018, the 25th graduating set of Medical students of Olabisi Onabanjo University were inducted into the Medical profession at the Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Sagamu Campus.
The occasion witnessed the presence of eminent personalities in the medical profession, the Principal Officers of the University, lecturers in and outside the medical profession, Royal Highnesses, Parents and Guardians of inductees and other dignitaries.
While addressing the gathering, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, expressed his gratitude for yet another historic occasion of the call to medical profession of the 25th Graduating Set of Doctors. He informed the gathering that Medical programme of the University was designed and adequately equipped to produce sound graduates that can compete with those from any part of the world in the practice of medicine within and outside the shores of Nigeria, stressing that this was evident in the cheering news on the feedback being received all over the world on our products
He implored the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the University and to sustain the current high standard of the medical programme. The Vice-Chancellor further informed the gathering that to ensure the sustenance of the current high standard being enjoyed by the medical programme and all other programmes of the University, a Central Research Laboratory has been put in place on each of the Campuses, to create a conducive atmosphere for the conduct of meaningful researches that will impact positively on the quality of the University’s products. He posited that the first of the Central Research laboratories, located in the Sagamu Campus will take off in the next few weeks.
Speaking further, the Vice-Chancellor advised the new inductees to keep soaring high and also, be committed to the University’s Alumni Association in order to contribute their quota to the progress of the University.
While delivering her speech at the induction ceremony, the Guest Speaker, Dr. (Mrs.) Aina Kikelomo Oyekanmi, a Chief Consultant Psychiatrist at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, who is also an alumnus of the University, said it was an homecoming for her as she was in the same situation over two decades ago. She expressed her pain, anger and anxiety on the fact that Nigerians have not utilized rightly the abundant resources God has bestowed on them as a nation, and that, the generations coming may experience difficulties should the situation persists.
One of her fears, she said, was the 2019 WHO Global Health Observatory Data, which estimated the ratio of Doctors to the population at 0.376 Doctors per 1,000 patients (1 Doctor: 2,660 patients), for Nigeria. This, when compared with Canada, we have the ratio of 2.539 to 1,000 (that is 1 Doctor to about 394 patients).
The situation in Nigeria was poignantly worse, she said, because over the last five years, there had been continuous migration of the few trained medical personnel, outside the shores of Nigeria. She charged the newly inducted Doctors that wherever they may go, they should not forget their country, Nigeria
She further admonished the inductees that their personal life must also be well guided and guarded and that, they should endeavour to live organized lives as that would reflect on how far they can go, cope and adapt to the changing scenes of life.
She implored the new inductees to honour their calling as Medical Doctors and be the agents of good change as the health and lives of Nigerians are in their hands.
She thereafter, adapted one statement by Abba Eban, one of the founding fathers of the new State of Israel, a leading medical nation in the world: “We say to the generations that will come after us, we are entrusting the next Nigeria to your hands. The past inspires (or discourages), but it is the future that beckons, there must be a new dawn in Nigeria, a new tomorrow waiting to be borne by you”.
In her address, , the Honourable State Commissioner, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Modupe Mujota, ably represented by Mr. Olugbenga Kekesowo, Deputy Director, Primary and Secondary Education, expressed her delight at the success of the newly inducted doctors. In her address, she said she was proud to identify with the success of turning out qualified Doctors who had been prepared to take on their defined roles in the society.
She appreciated the Management and staff of the Institution for their commitment to upholding enviable standards in the Institution, which has in turn, brought discernible progress being witnessed currently in the university.
She charged the new inductees to the Medical profession that as they take the Hippocratic Oath and commence their professional practices as health care experts, they should never lose sight of the significance of the occasion as a call to service to God and humanity.
She further entreated them to give themselves to hard work, be good team players and have mercy at heart, urging the inductees to always update their knowledge in their field. She enjoined them to ensure that no matter what height they attain in life, they should never forget the sacrifices, dedication, fears and pains of some people and in fact, Ogun State and Nigeria, and so, give back to their sources of greatness.
