The College of Medicine, University of Ibadan (CoMUI), on Thursday, May 25, 2023, inducted 54 graduating students into the Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) profession.
The event, which is the 4th induction ceremony of the 2020/2021 BMLS graduating set into the Medical Laboratory Science in the nation’s Premier University, had two First Class graduating students: Akinleye Oluwasogo Olaoluwa and Oduselu Tolulope John.
At the event, Taiwo Anjolaoluwa Emmanuel and Alabi Oluwapelumi Oyinkansola received the Provost’s Award for Excellent Participation in Community Life for male and female categories respectively.
Speaking at the occasion, the University Vice Chancellor, Professor Kayode Adebowale narrated how Medical Laboratory Technology started as a course in the Nigerian Premier University, revealing that UI is the first University to run the course at the degree level in Nigeria.
The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Ezekiel Olusola Ayoola explained, “University of Ibadan as the Premier University in Nigeria was the first to start a degree program in Medical Laboratory Science (then Medical Laboratory Technology) as a BSc (Medical Laboratory Technology) program in the 1965/66 academic session. For some reasons, the program was suspended in the 1967/68 session.”
According to him, “The resuscitation of this program as it is today after many failed attempts were initiated through a letter from the Management of the University College Hospital Ibadan on 30th March 2006, through the Dean of the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine to the VC, University of Ibadan, formally requesting for the introduction of a degree program in Medical Laboratory Science. The Faculty decided to commence the process of reactivation of the suspended degree program of Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology (B.Sc. Med. Tech.) as Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS). The Faculty Board of Basic Medical Sciences considered and approved the proposal. Thereafter, the Faculty Board set up a committee to review the proposal as well as put in place a comprehensive curriculum which was later approved sequentially by the Faculty Board, Academic Board of the College of Medicine, Senate Curriculum Committee, and the University Senate.”
“The National University Commission (NUC) after a resource verification exercise subsequently approved the curriculum for the commencement of the program in September 2012. Nine students were admitted as pioneers of the resuscitated program during the 2012/2013 academic session. The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS) degree program, which is primarily for the training of undergraduate students in Biomedical Laboratory Science for a period of five years, is both academic and professional; three (3) sets of students have so far graduated and inducted into the profession”, he stated.
He said that the peculiarity of the program lies in its coverage of all aspects of Pathological Sciences with a clear focus on bench work making it the major diagnostic arm of Medicine.
“The pathological Sciences which are specialties of the program are Medical Microbiology/Parasitology, Haematology/Blood Transfusion Science, Chemical Pathology, Virology, and Histopathology/Cytopathology”, he added.
According to him, “Currently, the Department has seven (7) dedicated academic staff. Three non-academic staff members are involved in the pioneering effort. The Department is run as a Faculty-wide program where scholars from all affiliated departments are directly involved in the training, with the office presently domiciled in the Biomedical Laboratory Building of the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.”
He concluded by charging the new inductees to give back to the system that has nurtured them.
In his address titled, “Embracing the Certainty of the Uncertainty”, the Provost of the College, Professor Olayinka O. Omigbodun, emphasised the importance of making adjustments based on situations.
Omigbodun pointed out that there are more uncertainties outside than what the graduating students experienced in school in the last few years exemplified by their spending seven years for a five-year programme. She advised them to brace up for these uncertainties.
She highlighted 10 advantages of uncertainties including the development of character, helping to shift priority, presenting opportunities, helping to focus on the moment, making one to be resilient, and making one to be grateful.
Omigbodun, who advised them to keep improving themselves and be resourceful, stressed the relevance of the new inductees working together with other medical professionals.
In his speech, the Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Dr. Tosan Erhabor, represented by the MLSCN Director of Education, Uchuno Gregory, was confident that the inductees would be counted among the excellent, dedicated, and reliable health professionals due to the high standard of knowledge and skills inculcated in them during their studentship.
He implored the University to continue to see the training of young Medical Laboratory Scientists as a worthy cause deserving of all their support.
His words, “Let me reiterate that Act 11, 2003 mandates MLSCN “To determine from time to time the standard of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become Medical Laboratory Scientists…” This is a sacred mandate that MLSCN takes seriously and does everything possible to bring to bear on the training of aspiring members of the profession. The processes and policies enunciated by the Council on Curriculum, Students Indexing, Professional Examination, etc., are also pursuant to the mandate. In other words. the Medical Laboratory Science program as domiciled in training instructions is effectively regulated.”
“We at the Council, do not pretend to know it all or that we can accomplish the above mandate alone. Thus, I implore stakeholders to continue to support the Council, so that together we can continue to produce competent medical laboratory scientists capable of competing favourably with their peers on the global stage. If we fail in this task, the health sector already bearing the brunt of systemic failures, would be in a more precarious condition and we would all be failing in our patriotic duties. As health professionals, the citizens of this country look up to us for their health and well-being, and they will not accept lame excuses for our failure to give them the right personnel”, he added.
Pointing out that the Council has zero tolerance for unethical practices, Erhabor stressed that any breach of the professional guidelines, including presenting themselves for NYSC deployment without first completing their internship program and securing their Practice License, would attract sanctions.
Speaking earlier, the BMLS Acting Head of Department, Dr Ishiaq Olayinka Omotosho, while urging the inductees to make hay while the sun shines, enumerated some challenges the department is confronting.
He said, “Aside from not having any handing over note, the running of the department has been borne through borrowing from various sources. It may interest us all that the department is still owing about eight hundred thousand naira (N800,000), as part of expenses incurred in conducting the 1 and 11 professional examinations, the result of which has culminated in today’s induction ceremony. I sincerely hope that promises will be kept by those concerned to bail the department out of the financial mess.”
Sharing the departmental vision, Omotosho disclosed that the training curriculum would soon be reviewed to make the student spend more time on the laboratory bench work.
According to him, the department is equally working towards assigning coordinators in each of the laboratories who will not only be saddled with mentoring them.
“The department is also planning to resuscitate the idea of rural posting… to ensure proper exposure of our students to the diagnosis of tropical diseases”, he added.
He also notified that efforts were being made to initiate the process of commencing postgraduate diploma, Master’s and Doctoral programmes in various disciplines of Biomedical Laboratory Science, adding that the department is also working towards increasing the admission quota status adjudged to be grossly inadequate.
The President, Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA), Professor Dipo Otolorin admonished the new inductees to imbibe the spirit of team spirit, stressing that healthcare delivery is a team work.
He pointed out that all the medical practitioners must work together to make patients better, saying that they must be conscious that patients are at the centre of their job.
Telling the new inductees that they have a very cheap education compared to fees paid abroad, he enjoined inductees to join the Alumni Association through which they are expected to give back to the institution that has made them and contribute their quota to the “Support Indigent Students” project and the ongoing “Hostel Project”.
Otolorin pointed out that it is the Alumni that is sustaining the College because the federal government is grossly underfunding education adding, “Federal Government has not been giving us money. Funding is inadequate and it is going down every day. The Alumni don’t want the standard of education to go down. We are bringing the financial needs to meet the standard here. You should have a spirit of giving back one day wherever you are. You should join the Alumni. Without Alumni, the standard will fall and we will not be the first and best again and your certificate will find it difficult to get you the job.”
In his word of advice, the Professional Elder, Adebola B. Adelaja urged the inductees to strictly adhere to the rules and ethics of the profession and ensure that they always live up to the expectation.
The Valedictorian, Akinleye Oluwasogo Olaoluwa, whose speech can be summarised in two words: tenacity and gratitude, described the five-year journey of the graduating class and their resolve to persevere despite struggles and challenges.
He said: “Tenacity is a virtue that is important for success in any field. It means to keep going despite the obstacles and setbacks that come your way. Tenacity is a key factor in success. It is the ability to keep going despite obstacles and challenges.”
He expressed the gratitude of the graduating class to the HOD, Dr Omotosho and other staff of the department and other people who helped them along the way. He also thanked their families for their support.
