Vice-Chancellor (VC) of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the country’s security challenges and create an enabling environment for healthcare professionals to thrive.

Ogunsola made the call during the induction and award ceremony for the 2024/2025 graduating medical and dental students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos.

The VC, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Prof. Afolabi Lesi, stressed that health and education remain critical to national development and should continue to receive priority attention.

In his induction lecture, Professor of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences at the University of Iowa, United States, Azeez Butali, urged the newly inducted doctors and dentists to remain grateful to their parents, lecturers and friends who contributed to their success.

According to him, the graduates should seek mentors, be intentional about their goals and pay attention to their financial future.

Similarly, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Wasiu Adeyemo, encouraged the newly inducted professionals to undertake their internship and postgraduate training in Nigeria.

“We need them here. The Federal Government is releasing funds to teaching hospitals, and they should take advantage of the opportunities available in the country,” he said.

Earlier, the Provost of CMUL, Prof. Ademola Oremosu, charged the graduates to rise to the challenges facing the healthcare sector and provide compassionate, holistic care to patients.

He noted that the increasing burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, oral cancer, periodontal diseases, heart attacks, Ebola, Lassa fever, HIV/AIDS and malaria, had made healthcare delivery more demanding.

The Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Prof. Fatima Kyari, administered the oath of allegiance to the newly inducted doctors and dental surgeons, formally ushering them into the medical and dental professions.