By Samuel Sunday
The Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, has inducted its first set of 109 nursing students, with stakeholders urging them to uphold professional ethics, embrace emerging technologies and prioritise compassionate patient care.
The maiden induction and oath-taking ceremony, held on Thursday, for the 2022 set of nursing students, marked a significant milestone in the institution’s contribution to nursing education and healthcare delivery in Ekiti State.
The event, themed “Called to Care, Equipped to Lead: Nursing Excellence in the Age of Technology,” celebrated the college’s pioneer cohort of inductees.
Delivering the induction lecture, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi highlighted the responsibilities and expectations associated with the nursing profession, stressing the importance of professional competence, ethical conduct and dedication to patient care. He urged the inductees to embrace continuous learning and develop the skills needed to meet the evolving demands of healthcare delivery in an increasingly technology-driven world.
Representing the Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr. Ndagi Aihassan congratulated the college’s management and staff on the successful induction of its first set of nursing students. He described the occasion as a landmark in the institution’s history, noting that the inductees had completed an important stage of their training and were beginning a new phase governed by the council’s professional standards and code of conduct.
Aihassan charged the inductees to uphold patients’ dignity, respect individual differences, maintain professional competence and commit themselves to lifelong learning. He also encouraged them to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, digital health platforms and telehealth, without losing the human touch that defines nursing care. He urged them to pursue further training, specialisation, research and leadership opportunities.
The Provost of the College of Nursing Sciences, Dr. Olabisi Awe, described the maiden induction as the fulfilment of an important institutional ambition and commended the pioneer students for their resilience and commitment.
She urged them to uphold integrity, protect patients’ confidentiality, respect human dignity and demonstrate empathy in their dealings with patients and colleagues. Awe also acknowledged the contributions of the Ekiti State Government, hospital management, staff and other stakeholders to the development of the college.
The Chief Medical Director of EKSUTH, Prof. Kayode Olabanji, described nursing as an indispensable component of effective healthcare delivery, stressing that nurses must combine sound clinical knowledge with discipline, compassion, accountability and teamwork.
He warned that carelessness, inaccurate record-keeping and failure to communicate critical findings could endanger patients, urging the inductees to follow established procedures and seek supervision whenever necessary.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary in the Ekiti State Ministry of Health and Human Services, Mrs. Olushola Gbenga-Ikoto, who represented the commissioner, congratulated the inductees and acknowledged the sacrifices of their parents and guardians. She encouraged them to build on the foundation provided by the college, strengthen their professional skills and prepare to contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery across the state.
The ceremony also featured awards recognising individuals for their contributions to nursing education and institutional development.
Prof. Bamidele James, Mrs. Rolake Adewumi, Mrs. Bukola Adaramola and Mrs. Monisola Ogundare received awards for their support for the College of Nursing Sciences, while Prof. Olabanji was honoured for his exemplary leadership and motivation. Mr. Olaniyi Filade also received an award for his outstanding support for nursing education.
The award recipients expressed appreciation for the recognition and urged the inductees to demonstrate discipline, dedication, patience and resilience throughout their professional careers.
The best graduating student, Abiodun Ifeoluwa, attributed her achievement to God and the support of her parents. She expressed gratitude to those who contributed to her success and encouraged her colleagues to remain focused on their professional aspirations without forgetting their humble beginnings.
She urged them to stay committed to their goals and remember the sacrifices and experiences that brought them to the milestone.
