Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) has inducted 23 Atiba University Nursing graduating students into the profession.
The induction ceremony, held on Thursday at the university campus located in the ancient Oyo town, Oyo State, drew erudite professional nurses within and outside the state to witness the first of its kind in the institution.
The Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Sunday Okeniyi, celebrated with the maiden inductees for choosing the noble profession as their career. He noted that nursing is a calling and a vocation that requires a special blend of knowledge, empathy and resilience, urging them to embrace the value that the university had instilled in them during the course of their studies in the university.
The VC noted that Nursing is a dynamic field, constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of society. He enjoined them to embrace every opportunity ahead of them and the challenges that would come their way, adding that development would serve as stepping stones that will lead them to greater heights in their profession. He also urged them to make a positive impact on the lives of others which he called the true essence of nursing.
“I have the utmost confidence in your abilities as registered nurses. You have received a comprehensive education that has equipped you with the knowledge and skills necessary to excel in your profession. Make personal commitment efforts to nurture your passion in the nursing profession,”he said.
Speaking in the same vein, the Head of Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences of the institution, Dr Jokotade Olarerin, enjoined the new inductees to keep abreast of the latest developments and innovations in nursing sciences and practice and also continue to seek opportunities to advance their career and education while on the field.
She said: “Nigeria still offers a unique platform for learning and development. Do not think that working in another country is always better, or easier than working in Nigeria. Every country has its own challenges and its prospects, the reason you should not undermine the value and the potential of working in Nigeria. You are part of the solution to Nigeria’s health challenges,”.
Some of the leadership in the nursing profession in Nigeria described Atiba University’ Department of Nursing as a standard that the Nigerian health sector can rely on for the production of reliable nursing graduates into the economy.
While speaking, the Director of Nursing Services, Oyo State Ministry of Health, Dr Oyebode Omokehinde, commended the commitment of the university to present 23 nursing graduating students for NMCN’s induction, first time in the history of the institution.
According to her, the high level of their academic performances in the various professional nursing examinations that qualified them for the induction indicated the quality of their lecturers, teaching and research facilities they were being exposed to.
Similarly, National President, University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA), Opeyemi Idowu Ojo, while enlisting the new inductees into the association, confirmed the quality of education the Atiba University nursing undergraduates are exposed to. He noted that the way the university is advancing in terms of teaching and research, the development will go a long way to enlist the institution as one of the best universities in the country for Nursing science training centre.
The guest lecturer, Professor Christiana Sowunmi, who delivered the induction lecture, entitled; Promoting standard in the nursing practice amidst global shortage of healthcare profession’, noted that Atiba university presented well behaved nursing graduates for the induction. According to her, their academic success in the Nursing professional examinations means that the university is endowed with human resources and teaching facilities to produce quality nursing science education that will satisfy the healthcare needs in the country.
. TheWitness
