CMUL inducts 83 doctors, harps on professionalism

Vice-Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Rahmon Ade-Bello, has appealed to newly inducted medical doctors from College of Medicine (CMUL) of the university to live according to the oath of the profession and desist from acts that can lead to the withdrawal of their license.

Ade-Bello, at the induction ceremony of 83 Medical and Dental students of 2014 set, reminded the doctors that they have been impacted with the best training that could match and surpass what could be gotten in other good schools around the world and as such, are expected to offer their best to the society.

Provost of the College, Prof Folasade Ogunsola and the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof. Chris Bode also called on the students to be in the forefront of finding solution to the crisis rocking the healthcare sector in the country and be good ambassadors of the school through their positive impacts on the society.

The VC, who was represented by the Dean, Faculty of Sciences, UNILAG, Prof. Soji Ilori, stressed that their profession was prestigious, as much as it is delicate and comes with a lot of challenges.

According to him, “You are being inducted today because you are one of the best, and that is why you were admitted into the university among thousands that applied.

“This is the beginning of good things to come for you. The training package that you got in this school is one of the best in the world, and I know that you can match anybody anywhere in the world.

“This profession is a prestigious one. People will celebrate you, but when you receive all these, know that it is a challenge for you to perform at your peak.

“It is a compassionate one and you have to show this compassion to your patients. Live and operate according to the oath you have taken today. Always update yourself because this profession is not for the lazy ones. Don’t make money the focal point of your profession because it will take you aware from your main purpose. Do not do anything that will bring disrepute to you and the university; don’t do anything that will make your license withdrawn from you.”

The provost in her address reiterated the responsibility that has come upon the new doctors to improve the ailing healthcare sector in the country.

According to Ogunsola, “It takes only the best to get into this school. Every year, we take only about 190 people, and yet we have about 3000 candidates that apply. This means you are the very best, however, it comes with a lot of responsibility.

“I always take this opportunity to bring into the consciousness of new physicians and dental surgeons the enormity of your responsibility as leaders in the healthcare workforce. You are different! You cannot behave like every other person in the labour work force.

“Too many lives will depend on you and that is an awesome responsibility. Healthcare in Nigeria today is in crisis and you have to be a part of the solution and not part of the problem and we have tried to teach that to you.

“Nigeria today stands at a crossroad and the decisions we make will determine if we truly will be great. As aptly said by our new President, ‘Nigeria therefore has a window of opportunity to fulfill our longstanding potential of pulling ourselves together and realizing our mission as a great nation.’ Rebuilding therefore involves every single one of us in our little corner, believing in our country and doing not only our bit, but giving 150 per cent of effort and attitude and helping to build the systems.”

The CMD of LUTH, Prof. Bode while congratulating the students on their newly attained level urged them to take hold of the training given to them by the “best and eminent people in the field” and excel while making the nation proud.

In the induction lecture, the Managing Director (M.D), Nordica Fertility Centre, Lagos State, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi admonished the new doctors to be innovative. He reminded them that the problems plaguing the country’s healthcare system is always evolving and needs an effective and innovative people to tackle it.

Abayomi further urged them to invest on themselves, join successful teams and learn what is on the table in order to become leaders in future through the collaboration they learnt there.

He finally called on them to choose what they are passionate about and excel in it, stating: “the fact that nobody has not done it before does not mean it cannot be done.”

Awards were given to best performing students in various field of the study with Ezegwu Olisa Kingsley emerging the best all-round performance at Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) degrees level, while Awotoye Olaleye Waheed emerged the best all-round performance at Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) degree level.