Gbenro Adesina
Wednesday February 9, 2022, Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (UI), was filled to the brim with notable nursing and medical scholars and practitioners, families and friends who came to witness the induction ceremony into the nursing profession for the Bachelor of Nursing of Science Graduating Class of 2021, otherwise known as “The Victors”. Among the highlights of the event was presentation of the Provost’s Award for Excellent Participation in Community Life to two candidates: Ajayi David Adebayo (male category) and Adeola Ayomikun (female category).
Speaking at the occasion, the Provost of the College, Professor Olayinka O. Omigbodun, represented by the Deputy Provost of the College, Professor Fatai Adeniyi, who equally represented the Vice Chancellor of the nation’s Premier University, highlighted the efforts of the College management in resolving accommodation problem being faced by the students. Noting that at present, the College could not accommodate more than 50 percent, Omigbodun said that effort is in top gear to ensure that all the student nurses are accommodated. She said, “One of the very first official tasks I performed the first day I resumed office was to carry out a commemorative turning of the sod for a new Nursing Building. I am happy to inform you that indeed the building is receiving a frontline attention.”
Speakers at the event took turn to admonish the graduating nurses to adhere strictly to the ethics of the profession, and not taking the respect and proper treatment of their prospective patients for granted. A Professional Elder, Professor Adenike Olaogun, in her words of advice said that until nurses see patients as themselves, they would not be able to deliver on their mandate. She held that until they understand that they could also be patients at any point in time, they would not be able to treat their patients well, urging the new inductees to treat their patients the way they want to be treated. “Please and please, every patient/client is important. Treat your patients well”, she urged the inductees.
Olaogun frowned at graduands who forget their alma mater, encouraging them to have the habit of given back to their alma mater. She did not understand why many Nigerians have chosen to be unpatriotic, saying that it is immoral for nursing graduates of public universities, who were trained practically for free, to jet out to another country and benefit such country at the detriment of their own country that has sacrificed it all for them. “Remember Nigeria first. If Nigeria did not train you, you can’t have a certificate that you can take out of the country. Invariably, you can’t leave Nigeria. You must know that some people decide to stay back to make Nigeria better. I have never stayed outside Nigeria to work. I stay here producing nurses. Nigeria is good. Yes, we have challenges, but God will help us. If we don’t check the rate we are leaving Nigeria, Nigeria will collapse one day”, she stated.
She added that if the new graduates should go to another country in search of greener pasture, they should not forget their home, alma mater, teachers and parents, who have put in so much to the success they have made in life.
In the same vein, Professor Amos Olufemi Adeleye, who represented the Dean, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Professor M. O. Owolabi, just like others, could not hide his apprehension, at the exodus of Nigerian trained nurses to other countries. According to him, it is wrong for the graduands to abandon the nation that has given them so much. “Nigeria has given you so much. You ran a nursing programme without borrowing money. If you had run the programme abroad, by now, as you are graduating, you will be highly indebted. Nigeria is a beautiful country, stay and make it better. But if you must go, always look back. Make sure you always give back”, he said.
Corroborating Adeleye, Dr Toyin Lawal, representing Chief Medical Director (CMD), University College Hospital (UCH), Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, who was confident the graduands were exposed to sound training like their counterparts in the western world, urged the graduands not to forget Nigeria.
His words, “Last year, I met a friend and I asked him of his son. He told me he has gone to USA, where he is being trained as a nurse. My friend pays $20,000 yearly for this boy’s school fees. But you, you have the privilege to study in Nigeria practically free of charge (FOC). I am not sure there is any difference in the training you both received. This is why Nigerian trained nurses are in high demand. Therefore, walk tall and shoulder high for graduating from the best university free of charge. Wherever you are, please remember where you come from. Sometime, we, your lecturers use our personal money to train you. On several occasions, I used my money to conduct exam for my students. Take the profession with the highest sense of responsibility. Your character matters a lot. I want you to show compassion when you are managing your patients.”
The Vice President 2, Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA), Dr Taiwo Soyinka, representing her president, Professor Dipo Otolorin, admonished the inductees to be professional, kind, caring and wonderful to their patients. She said, “Ensure your patients have the best hospital experience”.
Earlier, the Acting Head of Department, Nursing Science, Dr Beatrice M. Ohaeri, eulogized the newly inducted nurses, revealing that out of the 44 new inductees, six made First Class honours and 30 graduated with Second Class honours (Upper Division). The six First Class nurses are: Jegede Christiana Doyin (best graduating student), Ajayi David Adebayo, Ajayi Damilola Grace, Kazeem Aisha Titilope, Okoye Elizabeth Chinenyenwa, and Oyawale Anuoluwapo Kehinde.
She noted that, “They have equally been outstanding in cocurricular activities as four were awarded ‘challenge winners’ as investigators of impact of climate change on human health and one was recently sworn in as the Deputy Speaker of Oyo State Youth Parliament.”
Reiterating that they “are being sent off into the world to make impressions that will last and influence the profession of nursing”, she advised, “You should always remember that you have been trained to practice nursing with empathy and professionalism. You must be focused and respectful. Never stop learning, never stop asking questions and never forget that nursing is an art as well as a science practiced by nurses, who bring to the bedside, not only technology and training, but also compassion, concern, caring and humanity. Think out of the box and make your voice heard. Be conscientious, competent and compassionate in everything you do. Don’t underestimate the impact you can make in the exciting world of science and medicine, whether with a single patient or the whole community; and please note that you are not going to get very far in life by what you already know. You’re going to advance by what you are going to learn after you left here”.
“In addition, it is very important that you pursue your calling with vigor, with commitment and with kindness, allowing yourself to be enriched by each person you care for. Always be proud of your achievements, aiming to achieve even more, while at the same time healing yourself and taking care of your bodies. Therefore, it is very important that you stay focused on what your errand is, and ensure that you work for a cause and not for applause. Live life to express, and not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make it felt. Therefore, go forth and set the world on fire”, she concluded.
The Secretary-General/Registrar, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Faruk Umar Abubakah, who was represented by Head, Indexing Division, Timbuak Yamai, spelt out the significance of the occasion. “The essence of this occasion is to celebrate your transitioning from being nursing students to graduate and registered nurses. Therefore, today, our gathering here is to formerly receive you into the noble profession of Nursing through the induction and oath-taking ceremony, which will be administered to you by my humble self. This occasion will also be utilized to remind you of your fundamental responsibilities as Nurses.”
He said, “Nursing is a profession that is tremendously demanding, embellished in compassion and helpfulness; meaning that nurses are required to be compassionate, kind and attentive in dealing with patients. The Bachelor of Nursing Degree Progrmme, as you are aware, is a high standard educational programme designed to produce nurses, who are adequately equipped with the requisite knowledge, clinical skills and professional intelligence to render safe and efficient health care to the populace. The BNSc. Degree programme is both academic and professional in nature, designed to improve the quality of nursing services in Nigeria by empowering nurses to make sound nursing diagnoses, design appropriate nursing care plan, implement and evaluate nursing care holistically and comprehensively. Therefore, as polyvalent and graduate nurses, you have attained a high standard of education with clinical skills that will enable you to render safe and effective health care as you go into the labour market. Now, you will be fully accountable for your own decisions, actions and attitude. As graduate nurses, you must be able to perform nursing skills in a variety of health care settings, therapeutically assisting individuals, families and communities with diverse background (religion, culture, belief, social status, etc) and resolve their health issues.”
“In doing this, you need to understand the psychosocial and physical factors involved in alleviating of suffering, promotion, maintenance and restoration of health. You should be able to function independently and collaboratively with other health care professionals in the course of your practice in any health care setting. You should be able to develop, initiate strategies for health promotion, implement and evaluate such strategies for necessary outcomes. However, the truth remains that you would not be able to perform all these roles immediately you start practicing as Nurses. Therefore, I encourage you to be willing to learn from your colleagues already working in the clinical areas. Accept corrections, improve and make adjustment positively where necessary. Avoid unnecessary mistakes”, he explained.
Encouraging the new inductees to explore available opportunities to acquire higher degrees in nursing as there are lots of opportunities for Nurses with such qualifications in various Departments of Nursing Sciences and clinical arenas, he enjoined them to be credible ambassadors, adhere to ethics of the nursing profession, display humility and honesty in the course of their practice at all times.
In an emotion laden speech, the valedictorian, Doyin Christianah Jegede, reminisce over their journey as a class and how the class came to be known as “The Victors”, in honour of a member of the class, Victor Ajidagba, who died suddenly along the way.
According to her, his death made them realise the extent to which they needed one another adding, “Amidst all the pain and grieve that followed his death, our perspective on student life changed and we felt a paradigm shift from being in isolation to making collective efforts to succeed.”
She lauded their parents and lecturers, clinical instructors, non-academic staff, and many others who made the journey memorable for all members of the class.
