How to advance development of medical institutions, by experts

Medical experts at the Faculty of Clinical Sciences under the College of Medicine, University of Lagos (CMUL), Idi-Araba, yesterday, made recommendations on how to advance the development of medical institutions in the country.

The experts at the faculty’s first alumnus lecture and end of the year celebration with the theme, “Celebrating Our Alumni and Advancing the Development of Our Institution,” spoke about the significant roles alumni play in the advancement and development of educational and medical institutions.

Guest Speaker and former Provost, CMUL, Prof. Wole Atoyebi, said alumni relation was an important part of an institution’s advancing activities, adding: “Alumni generate invaluable word of mouth marketing among their social and professional networks. The reputation of an institution grows when it keeps producing successful graduates continuously, who are intelligent and innovative in their fields.

Over time, our institution has continued to benefit from alumni skills and experience.

“An active alumni association can contribute to academic matters, student support as well as mobilisation of resources. Alumni are also in the position to engage the expertise of the institution in their professional lives. We should also consider the model the present tertiary institutions are using because they need to be upgraded and worked on.

“The government needs to support the development of the institution through fund-raising, leading to revitalisation of the tertiary institutions. But, government alone cannot do the fund-raising.”

Dean of the faculty, Prof. Folashade B. Akinsola, urged the alumni to help them keep the standard, quality of training and research in the institution. The dean encouraged the public and members of staff to read books that could help improve the community.

“We will continue to encourage our members of staff to publish more books so that the institution and nation can benefit from our wealth of experience. Prof. O.A. Olawale and Dr. Oluchi Kanma-Okafor have written good books titled ‘Life after stroke’ and ‘Coping in the time of an infectious disease pandemic’ respectively that are going to be presented here today.”

ALSO, Chairman, First Alumnus Lecture of Faculty of Clinical Sciences Committee, Prof. Janet N. Ajuluchukwu, said: “Under the dynamic leadership of ‘our Next -Level’ Dean, who sees well and work smart, the faculty muted and adopted the idea of an end-of-year activity to a joyous and celebratory end. This morphed into ‘end-of-year alumnus lecture.