Elizade University Highlights Nursing Excellence as VC Says AI Cannot Replace Human Compassion

Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, has reaffirmed its commitment to producing resilient, technologically skilled and compassionate healthcare professionals, while highlighting the outstanding performance of its nursing students in national professional examinations.

The university made the declaration during the Annual Lecture Series of the West African Postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery (WAPCNM), Ondo/Ekiti Chapter, hosted in collaboration with Elizade University.

The lecture, which attracted nursing professionals, academics, healthcare practitioners and students from across the region, was themed, "The Holistic Student Nurse: Building Resilience Today, Embracing the Technology of Tomorrow."

Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Philip Oguntunde, said the future of nursing lies in balancing technological innovation with human compassion, stressing that nurses must possess not only clinical competence but also emotional intelligence and resilience.

According to him, patient care extends beyond medical treatment to understanding the physical, emotional and psychological needs of patients.

"The holistic nurse is one who recognizes that healthcare is about treating the mind, body and spirit. Nursing demands enormous emotional investment, and for anyone to succeed in such a profession, resilience is indispensable," he said.

Professor Oguntunde explained that resilience is the ability to adapt, grow and maintain empathy despite the demanding nature of nursing education and practice.

He also noted that while technology is transforming healthcare through artificial intelligence, telehealth, wearable health technologies and high-fidelity clinical simulations, these innovations cannot replace the human qualities essential to nursing.

"Artificial intelligence can process data, but it cannot offer genuine compassion. Technology can automate tasks, but it cannot replace critical thinking, empathy and intuitive care. These remain the enduring strengths of the nursing profession," he said.

The Vice-Chancellor added that Elizade University is committed to producing graduates who are technically competent, emotionally intelligent, resilient and socially responsible.

Delivering the guest lecture, Professor Adelani Tijani described nursing as a lifelong commitment to humanity and said the profession is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, telemedicine, genomic medicine, digital health platforms and globally connected healthcare systems.

He urged nursing students to embrace adaptability, continuous learning and innovation, noting that future nurses must not only work within emerging healthcare systems but also contribute to shaping them.

Professor Tijani explained that a holistic student nurse should combine academic excellence with emotional resilience, ethical maturity, physical well-being, social consciousness, technological competence and compassionate service.

He encouraged students to become researchers and innovators capable of driving healthcare transformation.

"The future belongs to nurses who are research-driven, technologically agile and committed to advancing healthcare through innovation," he said.

Earlier, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Alice Ogundele, said the lecture theme reflects Elizade University's philosophy of producing professionally competent, technologically equipped and emotionally resilient nursing graduates.

She highlighted the institution's achievements in professional examinations, revealing that its pioneer nursing graduates recorded a 100 per cent pass rate in both the Nursing and Midwifery professional examinations.

Dr. Ogundele also disclosed that while the national average in the Community/Public Health Nursing professional examination was nine per cent in May 2025, Elizade University achieved a 53 per cent pass rate. She added that in May 2026, when the national average rose to 80 per cent, the university recorded an 85 per cent success rate.

Speaking on the Fellowship programme of the West African Postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery, Mrs. Adebimpe Fatile, a Fellow and representative of the College, described the Fellowship as the highest level of professional and academic qualification for nurses and midwives.

She said the programme equips practitioners with advanced clinical expertise, research capacity, policy development skills and leadership competencies needed to address emerging healthcare challenges across West Africa.

Mrs. Fatile encouraged young nurses and nursing students to pursue the Fellowship, describing it as a pathway to professional distinction and an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery, education, research and policy development in Africa.

She also commended Elizade University for partnering with the College to host the annual lecture series, noting that such collaborations are essential to preparing healthcare professionals who are resilient, technologically proficient and committed to compassionate patient care.

The university said the lecture reinforces its growing reputation as a centre of excellence in healthcare education and innovation while underscoring the importance of resilience, technological competence and human-centred care in shaping the future of nursing practice in Nigeria and beyond.