Medical Graduate Bagged Multiple Awards
As the university of ilorin successfully graduated 64 of her medical students from her college of health sciences, in ilorin penultimate Wednesday, a female medical student of the college, Miss Akera Ganiyat Ade bagged the highest award in the recently held professional induction ceremony.
The presence of this special student who a the cynosure of all eyes at the graduation ceremony attracted a standing ovation from the celebrating crowd. Her continues appearance to claim the winning price was greeted in loud cheers and congratulatory remarks as she was announced the winner in various categories of the award given session. Miss Akera whose distinguished awards added-up to a total of seven include; College Annual Prize award donated by the Academic Staff of the College of Health Sciences (Unilorin) to Best student in Maternal and Child Health, Annual Prize donated by the Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN) to Best female student in Maternal and Child Health, Annual Prize donated by Academic Staff College of Health Sciences to the Best student in Pathology, the Professor Mathew Akinyemi Araoye Annual Prize to Best student in Medicine.
Also, she won the College Book Voucher donated by the University of Ilorin to the two overall best students, the Late Dr. Hamzat Olayinka Braimoh Academic prize award to Best student in Medicine, as well as the Olalomi Hospital Annual Prize as donated by Dr. Kola Olafimihan to the Best student in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
In his address, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences University of Ilorin, Professor Wahab R.B Johnson-a renowned expert in Paediatrics & Child Health, welcomed the graduands whom he described as the 'Quinta Essentia class and 64 olive green inductees' of the day into one of the world most fulfilling Profession. In his word: 'Our robust MBBS programme has continued to turn out, on yearly basis, well-trained medical doctors who have continued to contribute quantitatively and qualitatively to the health-care needs of our beloved Nation. Indeed, with today's induction of 64 additional doctors, our medical school has produced 4,062 in the 38years of existence.
Over this years, we have continued to receive institutional commendations from sister health facilities, indicating a distinctive Unilorin brand of clinical competence and (prior institutional acquisition of) a commendable knowledge base by our younger products.' In his words, the professor of Paediatrics affirmed thus; 'My worthy inductees, your formal initiation today into the medical profession (with your solemn affirmation of the Geneva-modified Hippocratic oath) constitutes a prestigious entry into a time-honoured, honourable, most frequently sought after, and indeed the dream profession of several youth. Similarly, the ensuing celebrations constitutes a well-deserved 'ritual' for attaining the 'adolescent milestone', which signposts your acquisition of a license for taking supervised but limited clinical decisions and responsibilities.'
While congratulating the the medical graduands, as well as their proud parents whom he described as 'lucky parents' for successfully scaling all the hurdles of several landmines of medical training in the College, the provost thereby lauded the sportsmanship of the university Vice-chancellor, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali (OON) for his revered but astute leadership role and keen interest in promoting excellence in all its ramifications especially in the College, which has ensued a physical and psychological clime that is conducive to teaching, learning and research.
Meanwhile, in the award-given category in honor of special graduating students of the day, Mr. Ariyibi Damilare Isaac, followed closely behind Miss Akera Ganiyat Ade in taking home several awards when he clinched a a total of five awards as Best student in Paediatrics, Overall best student in the College Book Voucher Prize, Best Graduating Student in Paediatrics and Child Health, Best Student in Ophthalmology, as well as the Best student in Surgery-as donated by the Professor Stephen K.Odaibo Prize.
Other awardees are; Okeke Gideon Onyekachi as Best student in the First Professional MBBS examination as well as Best student in COBES (i.e. Community Based Experience and Services) and Community Health. While Kazeem Ahmed Olajide won a single Nobel prize award as Best student in Neuropsychiatry in the Professor Adeoye Lambo Annual Prize award.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Professor Abdulganiyu Ambali (OON) in his keynote address he titled; 'ERUDITE PROFESSIONALS', noted that the university is proud of the students for having proved to be worthy in character and learning, a two key variables the university is much conscious of in awarding its certificates. He expressed much satisfaction in the fact that the university is adding bright minds to the pool of health-care delivery system as needed in the country and the world at large.
In his word, the Vice-Chancellor has said; 'The hallmarks of professionalism, especially for doctors, include integrity, honesty, trust, responsibility, confidentiality, altruism, excellence, team work and continues improvement. As today marks your professional initiation, there is need for you to be professional always. Always hold these qualities dearly and do not allow your values to be compromised.'
The Vice-Chancellor however drew his concluding remarks from the speech of Dr. Mrs Margaret Hamburg of Standford School of Medicine, United States while she addressed the college 2012 graduands. Professor Ambali urged the graduating class to take to heart the wisdom embedded in the address as they begin their professional career. He quoted Dr. Margaret Hamburg saying: '...never stop learning, never stop asking questions; and never forget that medicine is an art as well as a science practiced by doctors and researchers who bring to the bedside-and to the bench-not only technology and training, but also their humanity, caring and concern.' Adding that, 'One thing you must assure yourselves of is that your calling is a lifelong learning and service. If education transcends the narrow confines of schooling, this is truer for the doctors who as a matter of duty seek solution to problems. There are more problems facing the world than before just as our world is confronted with diseases that require knowledge to tackle.'
The Vice-chancellor therefore, tasked the new doctors to avail themselves for more learning and training opportunities in order to live more and enliven more, he urged them to be erudite professionals and be inspired by their teachers who are medical experts as well as erudite scholars in the various disciplines of medicine.
The hippocratic oath was thereby delivered by the Chief Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. AbdulMumini Ibrahim.
Speaking with Campuslife, one of medical graduands, who identitied himself as Fayose Samuel, said; 'i feel really great having become a doctor today as this is a moment long awaited. I must admit however that there was a whole lot of challenges along this part especially the challenges in pathology and pharmacology. All the same, I thank God for bringing me thus far.'
Another graduand, an international student from the Republic of Cameroon, Miss Benedicta Samba said; 'It has been an interesting experience for me actually not a difficult one, although there were normal challenges that comes with beeing an international student, nevertheless it was awesome and interesting period for me all the same.' When asked what next after the day's event, she simply replied: 'I just want to go back home and cool off for a while, and then other things will follow.'
Indeed, the roller-coaster journey of this unique class of medical trainees, through the institution could not have been better captured without the presence of the huge crowd at the event. It however attracted to the university, Medical experts from all walks of life. It also paraded distinguished principal officers of the University of Ilorin as headed by the university Vice-chancellor, principal officers of the College of Health Sciences, the Guest lecturer of the ceremony and Vice-chancellor of the Pioneer university in Nigeria, Professor Issac Folorunsho Adewole of the university of Ibadan as well as paramount rulers, international observants, various government security agencies, the medical and dental councils, parents, well wishers and the general public affiliated to the university of Ilorin.
-Odeyemi Olawale, 300level History, reported live from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria.
