Renowned plastic surgeon and Emeritus Professor, Dr Frank Akpuaka, has said Nigeria-trained medical doctors have earned a strong international reputation and no longer require special introduction when seeking professional opportunities in countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia and across Europe.
Akpuaka said Nigerian-trained doctors had continued to distinguish themselves internationally through their contributions to the medical profession.

He spoke during the maiden induction and oath-taking ceremony for 16 pioneer medical doctors trained by Rhema University Aba (RUA), Abia State, and inducted by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), represented by Dr Mandaka Tijjani.
The Guest Lecturer, whose presentation was titled The Sublime Traditions of the Medical Profession, congratulated the university on successfully producing its pioneer batch of medical doctors.

Akpuaka, however, charged the new doctors to uphold the highest ethical standards, warning that careless handling of sexual and financial matters remained among the major sources of moral turpitude in the medical profession.
He urged the doctors to maintain integrity and discipline, stressing that medicine should not be regarded merely as a money-making profession.

According to him, a good doctor must be humane, highly disciplined and polished, while pursuing wealth transparently and ethically.
“Polish is acquired when you learn etiquette, decent behaviour and courtesies of a civilised society, including integrity, cleanliness, honesty, diligence, truthfulness, respect for elders and constituted authority,” he said.

Akpuaka also advised the doctors to maintain the traditions of the medical profession through self-discipline, responsible conduct and leadership by example.
He urged them to be mindful of the company they keep, set high standards for themselves and pursue success through legitimate means.

“Even under stress, you must not commit criminal abortion, traffic excuse duty certificates or issue false medical reports. You must always cooperate with all members of the healthcare profession,” he said.
He further urged the inductees to treat colleagues and other people as they would wish to be treated, while maintaining professional discipline and integrity throughout their careers.

Inducting the doctors and administering the medical practice oath, Tijjani, on behalf of the MDCN, said the 16 graduates had been granted provisional registration as medical doctors, pending the successful completion of the mandatory one-year uninterrupted housemanship programme.
He explained that the housemanship would form part of the requirements for their full registration and certification as members of the medical profession.

Tijjani reminded the doctors that their right to practise medicine came with responsibilities, including compliance with MDCN rules and regulations, payment of annual practising dues, respect for senior colleagues and continuous professional education.
He also advised graduates planning to relocate abroad to seek appropriate professional guidance and obtain the necessary clearances before leaving the country.

The 16 inductees comprised 11 females and five males.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Founder and Chancellor of RUA and President of Living Word Ministries, Bro Emma Okorie, said the university was established as a memorial for God.

Okorie said the graduating doctors had performed exceptionally well in both their academic and spiritual development, expressing confidence that they would represent the institution positively in their professional careers.
The Provost of the RUA College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Professor Madu Awa, described the induction of the pioneer doctors as the fulfilment of the university’s dream.

Awa said establishing a medical school required sustained commitment to infrastructure, staffing, accreditation, clinical training, quality assurance and academic excellence.
He commended Okorie for providing the leadership and resources required to bring the medical school to fruition.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Ogbonnaya Onwudike, also expressed satisfaction that the institution’s vision had become a reality.
Onwudike said the medical doctors were not trained merely to pass examinations but to serve humanity with excellence.

He urged the pioneer graduates to establish a legacy for future generations of doctors trained by the institution, while allowing empathy and good character to guide their professional practice.
The overall best graduating medical doctor, Dr Ugwokaegbe Anointing Chidubem, expressed appreciation to the university’s founder, management, lecturers and other workers for their contributions to the successful training of the pioneer class.

She pledged that the graduates would approach the next stage of their careers with dedication and a commitment to serving humanity.
She said they would strive not merely to treat diseases but to practice medicine with empathy, excellence and high professional standards.