By Kemi Akintokun
Seven medical graduates of the Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences (EkoUNIMED) Ijanikin, Lagos were on Thursday inducted into the medical profession by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inductees are the second batch of the first set of medical doctors that graduated from the University.
Speaking during the induction and oath-taking ceremony, Prof Gbadebo Awosanya, the Vice-Chancellor, EkoUNIMED, charged the inductees to imbibe the ethics of the medical profession at all times.
Awosanya described the profession as propelled by love for humanity, and urged the doctors to exhibit empathy, integrity and ability in caring for their patients, as had been instilled in them as students.
He said: “The medical profession is a field where many are called but few are chosen. It is a field that demands empathy, knowledge and skills to improve the wellbeing of patients and save lives.
“This University has girded your loins to succeed and we expect nothing less from you but to uphold the values you learnt here and continue to make the institution proud.”
The vice-chancellor commended the parents/guardians of the inductees for investing in the education of their children, while he applauded the lecturers for imparting knowledge on the new doctors.
Prof. Fatima Kyari, the Registrar, MDCN, who administered the oath, admonished the inductees to approach their practice with humility and integrity.
Kyari, represented by Dr Tijjani Alli, emphasised the importance of competence and continuous professional development to upgrade their skills as they progressed in the profession.
She urged them to quickly embark on the mandatory one-year supervised clinical training, noting that there were over 100 government and private fully-accredited health institutions to train in, in the country.
Kyari said:””As you start this journey, let the values you have learnt guide and direct your paths, approach your practice with integrity and humility.
“Skills are very important in the practice of medicine. Your duty of care to your patients is of utmost importance and ensure you fully abide with professional ethics to avoid disciplinary measures.”
The registrar commended the school for being a beacon of excellence and maintaining a high standard as it nurtured medical professionals.
One of the inductees, Maneenah Abubakar, said her journey through the medical college was a rewarding one in spite of some challenges encountered.
Abubakar, the pioneer President of the University’s Medical Students Association, said her resilience and determination helped her scale through hurdles during her studies.
She advised upcoming students to imbibe a resilient spirit in their academic pursuits, noting that if they continued to push, they would finish well. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Christiana Fadare
