The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Ambali (OON), has advised the new medical graduands of the institution to be impeccable in their character, professional in their services and high in ethics and standards for them to be good ambassadors of the University.

Prof. Ambali gave the advice last Wednesday (January 13, 2016) in his address at the 32nd induction and admission ceremony for graduands of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, held at the university auditorium. A total of 55 new medical doctors were inducted at the ceremony.

The Vice-Chancellor, who was represented on the occasion by the Deputy Vice -Chancellor, Research, Technology and Innovation (RTI), Prof. Gabriel Olatunji, congratulated the graduands on their "safe arrival after a rigorous six years' journey in the College" and encouraged them to continue to fly the kite of their alma mater high by way of sticking strictly to the ethics of their profession at all times.

Prof. Ambali stated that the University of Ilorin has come of age in terms of producing highly qualified graduands who are always made to go through unblemished academic programmes that stand the test of time.

The Vice-Chancellor added that the University would not rest on its oars but would continue to do everything possible to maintain and sustain its well-known academic integrity in the interest of adding value to the society within which the University is domiciled.

He disclosed that the University authority had embarked on various infrastructural projects at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) including the construction of a 6.5 km road network that links the Teaching Hospital with the University main campus. He explained that the link road would ease the transportation system on both campuses and also add more impetus to the University administration.

Prof. Ambali pledged that the University would continue to evolve programmes and projects that will always place the institution high in the committee of ivory towers in the country, adding that he was convinced that the newly inducted doctors would continue to make the institution proud by their excellent expositions of their professional calling.

In her lecture on the occasion, the Guest Speaker, Prof. (Mrs.) Kikelomo Osinusi of the Department of Paediatrics, University of Ibadan, canvassed for more female doctors in Nigeria in order to break some barriers created as a result of limited number of female practitioners in the country.

Prof. Osinusi, whose lecture was titled "Rising Profile of Women in Medicine: Implications for Healthcare Delivery in the 21st Century", expressed hope that the more female doctors Nigeria produces the more effective the country's healthcare delivery service would be.

The Guest Speaker hinted that available data revealed that Nigeria had just 39.5 per cent of female doctors in 2015 and described the scenario as improper considering the male to female ratio in the country today.

Prof. Osinusi explained that if women have appreciable percentage in the medical profession, they would be in position to tackle some of the health related problems, adding that women have the advocacy power to convince people to key into the country's health care system.

Advising the graduands to rise to the challenges ahead and make the interest of their patients paramount in their minds, the Guest Speaker urged them to attach seriousness to their careers and cultivate the habit of developing themselves academically, adding that Medicine is a noble profession that needs life-long learning for them to continue to be relevant. In his welcome address, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Johnson, said that the choice of this year's topic was in response to the pleasant national trend in the gender distribution of undergraduate medical students, and a corresponding trend in those who are currently pursuing their (post graduate) residency careers in various medical specialties.

Prof. Johnson urged the 55 inductees to seek career pathways and specialties of their choices, and remember the tradition of selfless service and excellence on which the College prides itself. The Provost described the Guest Speaker as a world renowned Paediatric and infectious disease expert, who he said is his mentor and role model since his residency training days.

Administering the professional oath on the new medical doctors, the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr. Abdulmumeen Ibrahim, advised them to be humble and sincere with their profession, saying that he who humbles him/herself would be regarded as the best among them.

Dr. Ibrahim, who was represented by the Director, Medical Service and Training, Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr Zeenat Saad, also congratulated the parents and guardians on investing in their children and prayed God to crown their efforts.

The event was attended by the University Registrar, Mr. Emmanuel Dada Obafemi, the Chairman of the Kwara State Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. A. Ayinla; the Chief Imam of the University of Ilorin, Prof. AbdulGaniyu Oladosu; the immediate past Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. A. B. O. Omotoso; the husband of the Guest Speaker, Prof. A. Osinusi, as well as parents of graduands, among others.