The College of Medicine of the University of Ibadan (COMUI), on Saturday, September 2, 2023, inducted 128 new medical doctors into the Medical Profession for the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), graduating Class of 2023.
The set, named Excelsior, is made up of 79 male doctors and 49 female doctors
The event, which was held at Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre in the College had at its peak the Abib Olamitoye Foundation (AOF) prize for the best student in each specialty of the MBBS degree programme and scholarships by various notable individuals to some indigent students.
Drs Ughagwu Kelechukwu Peter and Iyawe, Efosa Peace received the awards for the best graduating students. Ughagwu also received the awards for the best student in Anatomy, Physiology, Pathology, Paediatrics, and Surgery, with Iyawe going home with the awards of the best student in Obstetrics and gynecology, Medicine, Pharmacology and therapeutics.
Others who received awards for best student in other specialties are Drs Babalola, David Oluwasayo, Biochemistry, Kolawole, Olanrewaju, Physiology and Preventive and Social Medicine, Brimmo, Farida Oluwabukola, Preventive and Social Medicine and Aladesewa, Oluwatunmise Adedora, Psychiatry. A cash award of N100,000 is attached to each of the awards.
While Drs Amaji, Obinna Charles and Nwagbara, Jaachimma Oluwabunmi received the Provost’s Award for Excellent Participation in Community Life for male and female categories respectively, Dr Salami, Oluwaferanmi David received Emeritus Professor O. O. Akinkugbe Leadership Award.
Another major highlight of the event is the set’s donation of N360,000 to the hostel building construction which the parents willingly shore up to over N4 million.
Also, the students who received full and partial scholarship for 2023/2024 academic session are Ayokunle Opeyemi Ogunlade and Oluwatoyin Grace Adeleke N425,000 each out of the N850,000 of the Professor Isaac Adewole Scholarship, and Ndidi Amaka Benedicta Okafor won Cecilia Oshikolu’s scholarship of N331, 500.
Furthermore, Orinayo Oreoluwa received Dr Habibi Olamitoye scholarship of N600, 000, Ayodeji Ayobami Rahmoni and Oluwadamilola Joy Adeniyi received N250, 000 each of the N500, 000 Dr T. A. B. Sanusi’s scholarship, and Yinka Joy Adeniran receiving N100,000 of the Dr Akinola Ayodeji scholarship.
Speaking at the occasion, the Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Kayode Adebowale noted that medical doctors are watchmen over people’s health and well-being.
Adebowale also noted that the nation’s Premier university has done its best to raise the inductees as Africa’s hope for a better today, urging them to do their best to manifest these virtues and excel. “I implore you to be good ambassadors of the University and to sustain the current high standard of the medical programme”, he added.
Citing WHO Global Health Observatory Data, Adebowale pointed out that the estimated ratio of doctors to the population was 0.376 doctors per 1,000 patients (1 doctor: 2,660 patients), for Nigeria, illustrating, “This, when compared with Canada, we have the ratio of 2. 539 to 1, 000 (that is 1 doctor to about 394 patients).”
According to him, “The situation in Nigeria was poignantly worse because, over the last five years, there had been continuous migration of the few trained medical personnel, outside the shores of Nigeria. I, therefore, charge you that wherever they may go, kindly do not forget your country, Nigeria.”
He advised, “Let your personal life also be well guided and guarded and endeavour to live organised lives as that would reflect on how far you can go, cope and adapt to the changing scenes of life.
“Your calling as medical doctors is a calling unto honour and be agents of good change as the health and lives of Nigerians are in your hands. Please do not only attend to the medical/health concerns of a patient but also see to the total well-being by providing the all-round care required to make a wholesome and fulfilled personality.
“Never forget your humanity or that of your patients. They are people, not just a collection of specialized body parts. They have unique life stories, linked to their place in families, communities, and societies, with women and girls often occupying the lowest place. These circumstances have a profound impact on illness and healing. Be prepared to be accountable for everything you do; be prepared to welcome your patients’ participation in decisions about their care; be prepared to devote your professional energies not only to your patient’s needs but also to the unmet health needs of our society as a whole.
“Always remember, following the words of William Osler (William Osler was a Canadian physician and one of the four founding professors of Johns Hopkins Hospital), that “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease.” Never neglect your connection with the Great Physician.
“Abba Eban, one of the founding fathers of the new State of Israel, a leading medical nation in the world: “We say to the generations that will come after us, we are entrusting the next Nigeria to your hands. The past inspires (or discourages), but it is the future that beckons, there must be a new dawn in Nigeria, a new tomorrow waiting to be borne by you.”
In his conclusion, Adebowale said, “Remember, today many years of hard work, dedication and commitment is apparent and your years of study and learning are being transformed into emerging and promising careers. You will be faced with diverse opportunities and you will need to make informed choices. So, I charge you today to commit your hearts to optimizing your hindsight, insight and foresight to effect decisions that guarantee productive sustainability.
“I urge you to proceed with intentional gait and glow, not just about your current achievement, also with the realization that what lies ahead is far greater than can be imagined. I must quickly add that you must instantly dismiss unnecessary agitations and complaints without proposed solutions that are well thought out. You have been immersed in an environment that stimulates creativity and innovation. The motto of the University is Recte sapere fons. Prove your mettle!
“Our desire is to see you excel and make your Alma Mater proud. The University of Ibadan will be 75 this year. We are rolling out the drums to celebrate the excellence which the University is known for.”
In her speech titled, “An Exceedingly Excellent and Ever Upward Journey into Experience: In Admiration of Excelsior MBBS/BDS Class of 2023!”, the Provost of the College, Olayinka Omigbodun, a Professor of Psychiatry expressed her sadness over the high level in which Nigerian best brains migrate to other countries.
She said, “Very sadly as I spoke to your brilliant minds you informed me that you were all leaving the country for different destinations in pursuit of an environment that understands and appreciates the need to attract and keep their best minds. That is my deep regret. However, I appeal to you not to burn your bridges. Keep an open mind as you go. Ensure you complete your internship year and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). You will be back someday when your Nation is ready for you.”
According to her, the set named themselves Excelsior, meaning ever upward, to describe their experience together through strikes and strife, stating, “You informed me that Excelsior meant, Ever Upward! You felt very strongly about this because you perceived the journey you had embarked on was a journey of Excellence that started with encounters as you learnt to understand each other.”
She revealed, “You experienced a long journey as you were admitted to the University of Ibadan eight years ago in 2015 but eventually started school in February 2016. You crossed over in September 2018 into clinical school, thereby spending a total of seven years and six months in the University of Ibadan and five years in clinical school! The delays were due to strikes and strife and the COVID-19 pandemic, but all these helped in your growth process and in building class consensus. Not only were you Upward Ever but you were also a Peculiar Class.”
She noted that everyone including Nigeria has a lot to learn from the class, stating, “I was amazed to learn about your coming together and I think every group of students in our university and beyond have a lot to learn from the MBBS/BDS Excelsior approach to unity. You proceeded as a class and developed common welfare and academic projects. Your welfare project was called Project One. You developed the 40-hour agenda and had tutorials together. This made you start to see your common goals and to respect each other uniqueness. Gradually the arguments diminished and although there are still some, there is a lot more kindness and patience among members of the class. What a great achievement! Your welfare programmes transformed into bonding projects! Your seniors noticed something different and special about this class. They noticed your Togetherness especially as female members would come to watch soccer and support their male classmates. The level of participation in sports from both males and females, was unparalleled in any class. The diverse nation of Nigeria has a lot to learn from the MBBS/BDS Excelsior Class of 2023!”
In his speech before administering the oath of the profession and presentation of provisional license to the new doctors, the Registrar of the Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr T. A. B. Sanusi, revealed that the College admit only quality students, saying that the medical council would not trade quality for quantity.
He urged the new doctors to ensure that they earn their respect and ensure that they respect other paramedical professionals because they are all team players.
Speaking on the accreditation of UI College of Medicine, he stated that without fear and favour, the accreditation team would increase its quota if the College deserves it and if not, decrease it.
He emphasised that housemanship and NYSC programmes are mandatory, pointing out that during housemanship, the doctors are not expected to be part of NARD, therefore, should not join strike action.
He urged them to exercise caution regarding migrating abroad, saying that the grass is not always as greener as they think in the Western world.
He lamented the absence of medical officers in all the 774 local government areas in Nigeria, appealing to the doctors to consider that Nigeria does not have enough doctors, hence migrating abroad would lead to more medical hardship to Nigerians.
He warned the doctors against discharging patients when strike action is declared, saying that they may not admit new patients but it is obligatory to conclude treatments for the already admitted patients.
Addressing the inductees, the President, Ibadan College of Medicine Alumni Association (ICOMAA) Worldwide, Prof Emmanuel Otolorin, who was inducted into the medical council 51 years ago, advised the new doctors against migrating to another country when they have their own people to attend to medically.
He encouraged them to rather be involved in politics and find their way into the National Assembly where laws are made and ensure that they make laws that would favour the medical profession.
He emphasised that it was long overdue leaving decisions on the medical profession to unpatriotic Nigerians saying, “I want you to go to the Senate or House of Representatives. I want you to be legislators so that you can legislate and introduce decisions that will favour the medical community.”
Giving professional advice, Professor Aderonke Manuwa-Olumide informed the new doctors that they have a lot to give to their society, saying that they have been called into a noble profession.
Manuwa-Olumide warned them against wrong behaviour as society looked up to them, stressing that they could not afford to let down their Alma Mater, parents, and society.
She urged them to take the oath of the profession very seriously, pointing out that they are expected to give humanity to human beings and they must put the interest of their patients above their interest.
She urged them to cultivate the idea of long-term learning, telling them, “You must continue to read journals, find out new approaches to medicine, go to conferences, update yourselves, and don’t give outdated care. Let us pray that Nigeria will rise and give us technology to do this.”
Her words, “As doctors, you are leaders of the health, don’t take it as an advantage. You have to earn it by being humble and respect everybody. You can’t succeed without respect and humility. Humility is very important. Other members of the health profession will want to pull you down. Can you be pulled down if you are already on the floor?”
She continued, “To be successful, you must have happy homes. You lady doctors, your husbands are the heads of the families. Remember that your family is your first priority. Women doctors will need somebody to work with, you need to work with your husbands to make homes successful. Lady doctors, you have a special responsibility to make sure your children are well-raised. It is difficult to raise children. You must acquire the needed skills to do this. If I can do it, you can do it. You are a wife first and foremost before you become a mother and anything. To the male doctors, all the nurses will be running over you and you will forget that you have loving wives at home. You should remember to love your wives.”
In the same direction, Profession E. O. Akande, who was inducted into the medical profession in 1964 said this is, “Another set of leaders that will define the future of Nigeria.”
Akande, who advised the new doctors to respect their teachers, pointed it out that medicine is not an appropriate profession for humans who crave to be super rich.
“As medical doctors, you get a lot of respect; you will have enough and have satisfaction. You will not be rich but you will not be poor. You will have enough to satisfy yourself”, he stated.
He called for healthy interprofessional interactions among health workers, explaining “All health workers should collaborate and not discriminate. This increases motivation and effectiveness. My advice is that you should all be great team players.”
The valedictorians of the 2023 set, Ughagwu and Iyawe congratulated the set for their success after eight years of intense hard work.
Iyawe said, “We have proved that we are EXCELSIOR; we are bright and bold, armed with the strength that may unfold. We are indeed an exceptional class as we have shown over the years in our excellence, diversity, ingenuity, novelty, and exceptional brilliance. You are a class of many first, the pacesetters.
Ughagwu, while commending the effort of the college mentioned some of the lapses that added to their difficulties.
He said, “It said that no system is perfect. While the college has done its best not to compromise standards, the unflattering we face as a country has continued to make it difficult for things to work. Although many things are being done right, we still ask questions amongst ourselves. Why can we not see all our test results before exams begin? Why do we have to wait months to get our transcripts when they can simply be made available to us digitally? Why do we have to carry multiple logbooks around, depriving ourselves of sufficient study time? Why do we stand through long night in Neurosurgery only to wake up by 4 a.m. the next day? Of course, as the subject of these imperfections, we know where they hurt the most. Hence, we hope that the answers to these burning questions lie behind the listening ears we have seated here today.”
