No fewer than seventy-seven newly qualified Dispensing Opticians have been inducted in the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, in the Offa local government area of Kwara State.

The inductees include 60 graduates from Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa; 12 from Millennium College of Health Technology, Akure, Ondo State and five from Diphillab College of Ophthalmic Health Science and Technology, Ikorodu, Lagos state.

Speaking at the fifth oath-taking and orientation ceremony of the newly qualified opticians held at the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, the Registrar, Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria (ODORBN), Dr. Obinna Edwin Awiaka, tasked the inductees to adhere strictly to rules and regulations of the profession as specified in accordance with the procedures of the regulatory body.

Awiaka challenged them to draw a clear-cut distinction between boundaries and guidelines to achieve desired results.

He encouraged them to be in tune with the laws of the calling, having taken oath of the induction as any of them found wanting would face the board's penalty.

In his remarks, the Provost of the College, Dr. Aliyu Abdulrauf, described the induction as official entry into their profession and cautioned them against violation of professional ethics of opticianry.

Abdulrauf applauded Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians Registration Board of Nigeria for its passion for the college and urged the Registrar of the Board to increase the quota of students from the State Health Technology, Offa to be able to cater for more interested candidates.

In his valedictory speech, the Head of Department, Dispensing Opticianry, Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, Optician Ibrahim Liman Moshood, said that the induction marked the momentous journey of talented fortuned opticians, who successfully completed rigorous training and education.

Liman, who pointed out that the commitment of the students for the field of opticianry brought them to the limelight in their professional lives, urged them to always be of good conduct in rendering services to humanity.

He expressed delight that the curriculum implementation for Higher National Diploma (HND) in Dispensing Opticianry had commenced and advocated recruitment of opticians in basic health care centers and privately-owned eye care facilities.

“To our newly qualified opticians, I say a very big congratulation and employ you all to be of good conduct as you venture into the society at large. I persuade you to stick to the passion of delivering values to other people as your guiding stars, especially in the healthcare system and focus on expanding your capacity to serve others and on finding ways to contribute to the betterment of the society.

“Opticianry is an age long profession that has combined the science, physics, anatomy, physiology, technical skills as well as artistic skills to deliver an outcome in form of spectacles that aid the vision of millions and ocular prosthetic eye that has given hopes to many to gain confidence and fit back into the society after a loss of an eye.

“With numerous advancements and collaborations with other eye care professionals plus the usage of artificial intelligence. Opticianry profession has far moved away from glazing but rather contributing to current advancements such as the bionic eyes that has given hope to the visually impaired persons

“With the HND Dispensing Opticianry curriculum that the implementation has begun, it is pertinent to call upon all stakeholders to ensure opticians are employed to all the levels of health care service delivery, particularly the closest to the people, which is the Primary Health Care sector and private eye clinics”, Liman said.

At the induction ceremony, oath was administered on 2022/2023 graduands of Dispensing Opticianry with goodwill messages and presentation of cash awards to most outstanding students.