Igbinedion University Inducts 48 Newly Qualified Medical Doctors

The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) on Thursday inducted 48 newly qualified medical doctors from Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, into the medical profession.

The oath was administered by the Registrar of MDCN, Prof. Fatima Kyari, who was represented by the Deputy Registrar, Dr. Enejo Abdu. In his address, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, charged the inductees to take up the urgent responsibility of contributing to Nigeria’s healthcare system, describing their entry into the profession as both a personal triumph and a national duty.

He noted that the theme of the 20th induction ceremony, “As You Take Your First Step: Heeding the Call to Salvage Nigeria’s Healthcare System”, underscored the deliberate and urgent task before the new doctors.

“We have not trained you for despair; we have trained you for leadership. Let your diagnosis be accurate, your counsel be truthful, and your hands be clean,” he said. Prof. Ezemonye also warned against the growing “Japa” syndrome, urging the new doctors to resist the lure of permanently relocating abroad.

“The greatest impact, the most profound legacy, is often built not in places of comfort but in fields that require cultivation. Be among the courageous who choose to stay and build, to be the change they wish to see,” he added.

Delivering the induction lecture, Brigadier-General Paulina Aburime, Medical Director of the Military Hospital, Benin, highlighted the urgent need to tackle the nation’s poor health indices with innovation, sacrifice, and integrity.

She lamented that maternal mortality in Nigeria stands at 840 per 100,000 live births, while under-five mortality is 104 per 1,000, stressing that behind every statistic is a story of grief that must move practitioners to action.

The event marked the 20th induction ceremony of medical doctors produced by Igbinedion University.