Benin, Edo State (Nigeria): Igbinedion University has formally inducted 48 newly qualified medical doctors into the profession, marking its 20th induction ceremony in partnership with the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
The oath was administered by MDCN Registrar Prof. Fatima Kyari, represented by Deputy Registrar Dr Enejo Abdu. Vice-Chancellor Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye charged the inductees to embrace their roles not just as healers, but as leaders tasked with revitalising Nigeria’s healthcare system, urging them to resist the growing trend of medical migration and instead build lasting impact at home.
Ezemonye told the doctors that their entry into the profession was not just a personal triumph but a national responsibility.
“The theme of this 20th induction, ‘As you take your first step: heeding the call to salvage Nigeria’s health care system’, is a deliberate, urgent, and emotional charge placed upon your shoulders.
“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 charged the inductees.
He, however, warned against the growing “Japa” syndrome, urging the graduates to resist the lure of permanently relocating abroad.
“The most significant 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 said.
The vice-chancellor urged the new doctors to write the story of Nigeria’s healthcare renaissance with their hands.
In her induction lecture, Brig-Gen. Paulina Aburime, Medical Director of Military Hospital, Benin, said the country’s health outcomes remained unacceptable and must be confronted with innovation, sacrifice, and integrity.
“Maternal mortality in Nigeria stands at 840 per 100,000 live births, while under-five mortality is 104 per 1,000.
“These are not just numbers. Behind every statistic is a person, a family, a story of grief. These stories should move us to action,” the guest lecturer said.
Aburime reminded the doctors that medicine was not a business but a covenant of service.
“The Hippocratic Oath you will take today is more than a ceremonial recitation. It is a lifelong compass. You pledge to place the well-being of patients above personal gain.
“Beyond curing, you are called to care, to comfort, and to walk with patients in their most vulnerable moments,” she said.
The senior military officer stressed that the doctors must innovate even under challenging circumstances.
“Why should rural clinics remain without electricity when solar solutions exist?
“Why should mothers die of haemorrhage when cheap drugs are available?
“The innovators who ask these questions and provide answers are those who will change Nigeria’s story,” she said.
