By DAYO ADESULU
Babcock University has inducted 70 newly qualified medical doctors into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), with stakeholders urging the graduates to play active roles in transforming the nation’s healthcare sector despite growing challenges facing the profession.
The charge was given during the university’s 11th Medical Induction Ceremony held at the institution’s Amphitheatre, where the new doctors were formally admitted into the medical profession.
Delivering the induction lecture, Medical Elder and renowned paediatrician, Prof. Stephen Obaro, challenged the graduates to remain focused on the core values of medicine and contribute meaningfully to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He advised the doctors to uphold their professional oath by providing quality healthcare with integrity, compassion and excellence, irrespective of patients’ backgrounds.
Prof. Obaro also cautioned against allowing financial considerations to be the sole determinant of career decisions, especially amid the increasing migration of healthcare professionals from Nigeria.
According to him, while many doctors seek opportunities abroad, they must carefully evaluate the personal and professional implications of relocation and find ways to contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare development regardless of where they practice.
He noted that Nigeria has lost at least 16,000 doctors to brain drain within the last five years, leaving only about 55,000 practicing doctors to serve a population exceeding 220 million people.
The development, he said, has worsened the doctor-to-patient ratio in the country, which currently stands at approximately one doctor to between 3,600 and 4,000 patients, significantly below the World Health Organization’s recommended ratio of one doctor to 600 patients.
“Build an informed decision about migration. Weigh the personal and professional trade-offs. Understand that migration does not preclude contributing to Nigeria’s healthcare system,” Obaro told the inductees.
Speaking at the event, Babcock University President and Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Afolarin Ojewole, reminded the graduates that they were entering a healthcare environment shaped by rapid technological advancement, emerging diseases, growing health inequalities and complex ethical issues.
“You will serve in a world confronted by evolving health challenges, technological advancements, widening health disparities and complex ethical questions,” Ojewole said.
He urged the newly inducted doctors to remain worthy ambassadors of the institution by demonstrating exemplary character, leadership and commitment to service.
Also speaking, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the MDCN, Dr. Fatimah Kyari, stressed the importance of maintaining ethical standards in medical practice.
She urged the graduates to guard their integrity, avoid malpractice and embrace lifelong learning.
“The medical profession is a noble one and we must never forget to uphold the ethics we have sworn to keep. Medicine is not just a profession; it is a calling. Hold on to your passion, protect your integrity and never stop learning,” Kyari said.
The Provost of the Benjamin Carson (Babcock) School of Medicine, Prof. Adeola Fowotade, encouraged the doctors to build upon the knowledge and values acquired during their training.
She also commended members of the faculty for their dedication and commitment to mentoring the graduating students.
A major highlight of the ceremony was the recognition of Dr. Esther Tope-Awe, who emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student of the Orion 11 class.
Expressing gratitude for the achievement, Tope-Awe described the recognition as an overwhelming experience and attributed her success to divine grace, family support and encouragement from friends.
In recognition of her outstanding academic performance, she received a cash award of ₦250,000 from the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), an additional ₦250,000 from the NMA Secretary, as well as an award from the Ogun State Chapter of Women in Medicine.
The induction ceremony reaffirmed Babcock University’s commitment to producing highly skilled medical professionals equipped to contribute to healthcare development in Nigeria and beyond.
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