Bingham University Inducts 137 Graduate Nurses, Urges Professional Ethics and Lifelong Learning

Bingham University has inducted 137 graduate nurses into the nursing profession at its fifth induction ceremony, with the newly qualified professionals urged to uphold ethical standards, demonstrate competence and commit to lifelong learning.

The ceremony was organised jointly by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and the Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Bingham University. It attracted university management, Council officials, parents, professional associations and other well-wishers.

The Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr Ndagi Alhassan, represented by Nurse Umar Gambo, congratulated the inductees on successfully completing their Bachelor of Nursing Sciences (BNSc) programme.

He commended their lecturers, parents and guardians for providing the academic, moral and financial support required throughout their training.

Dr Alhassan described the BNSc programme as a highly standardised course designed to produce versatile graduate nurses with the scientific knowledge, clinical skills and professional competence needed to provide safe and effective healthcare services in different settings.

He disclosed that the Council was finalising a Central Internship Placement System for ND, HND and BNSc nurses nationwide. The proposed system will provide a database of accredited facilities, available vacancies, remuneration packages and internship postings.

Pending the completion of the system, he advised training institutions to absorb their own graduates.

The Registrar also encouraged the newly inducted nurses to pursue advanced professional training and higher academic qualifications, noting that Nigerian nurses were making significant contributions to healthcare globally.

He urged them to remain faithful to their professional oath and practise with humility, empathy and honesty.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Bingham University, Professor Haruna Kuje Ayuba, described the induction as a transition from student life to professional practice and the beginning of a career dedicated to caring for others.

Professor Ayuba appreciated the NMCN Registrar and his team for their partnership and sustained commitment to maintaining high standards in nursing and midwifery education and practice.

He also commended the Head of the Department of Nursing Sciences, Nurse Barry Afoi, and other departmental staff for their dedication to teaching, mentoring and supporting the students throughout their training.

The Vice-Chancellor assured the department that the university management remained committed to developing its nursing programme, with investments aimed at strengthening teaching, learning, research and accreditation readiness.

Addressing the inductees, Professor Ayuba urged them to make competence the foundation of their practice, compassion their guide and integrity their constant companion.

He emphasised the importance of treating patients with dignity and respect, listening carefully, communicating clearly, protecting confidentiality and continually updating their knowledge. He further advised them to allow professional ethics to guide their decisions, particularly in challenging situations.

The guest lecturer, Dr Andy Emmanuel, a Senior Lecturer and Campus Academic Lead at the Institute of Health and Management (IHM), Australia, delivered a paper titled “From Induction to Action: Equipping Newly Qualified Nurses with Competence, Confidence, and Readiness to Save Lives in Emergencies.”

Dr Emmanuel warned that some newly qualified nurses leave the profession within their first year, often because of the stress associated with transitioning from training to professional practice.

He explained that patient deterioration is often preceded by abnormal clinical observations long before cardiac arrest or admission to an intensive care unit. He noted that newly qualified nurses carrying full clinical workloads are frequently among the first healthcare professionals to identify such warning signs.

The guest lecturer described the first year of nursing practice as a period marked by several stages, including transition shock; an initial focus on tasks accompanied by anxiety and fear of overlooking important details; gradual improvement in skills alongside fatigue and self-doubt; and eventual adjustment towards a stable professional identity.

He outlined key national expectations for nursing practice, including the measurement and documentation of vital signs, timely escalation of care, the use of rapid response systems and effective safety communication.

According to him, these expectations should be supported by continuous education, clinical audits and technological solutions.

In his goodwill message, the National President of the University Graduates of Nursing Science Association (UGONSA), also known as the Graduate Nurses Association of Nigeria (GNAN), Nurse Ojo Opeyemi, represented by Nurse Comrade Esson Anthony, described nursing as more than a profession, calling it a commitment founded on compassion, expertise and unwavering dedication.

He congratulated the inductees on completing five years of academic dedication, resilience and hard work, urging them to place patients’ interests and welfare above all else.

He formally enlisted the 137 inductees as full members of UGONSA and encouraged them to uphold the association’s reputation and embody its slogan.

Highlights of the ceremony included the administration of the professional oath by the Registrar’s representative, Nurse Umar Gambo, and the presentation of awards to outstanding graduands.

Cynthia Nneoma Fedrick emerged as the Overall Best Graduating Student, graduating with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.81.