ESUT Restates Commitment to Modern Medical Education, Inducts 29 Doctors

Uchechukwu Nnaike

The Vice-Chancellor, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Prof Luke Anike, has charged the newly graduated medical doctors not to cut corners but to stick to the ethics of the medical profession in the discharge of their duties.
Anike, who warned the young doctors against greed for quick money, stated that the sky would be the limit of any professional that choses the path of hard work and excellence.

Speaking in Enugu at the induction ceremony of 29 young medical doctors of the College of Medicine, ESUT, the vice-chancellor stated that due to the critical role of doctors in health care delivery, the institution would continue to invest in research, capacity building and modern medical education to ensure that only the best comes out of the medical school.
He disclosed that out of 49 students that went through the final assessment exercise supervised and approved by external examiners from other universities in the country, only 29 of them were found worthy to practice medicine.

In his remarks, the Provost, College of Medicine, ESUT, Prof. Anthony Ugochukwu, said the college’s academic programmes have been revised and streamlined such that a student coming into the college knows exactly when he/she would graduate, all things being equal.
He said the new academic regulations designed in line with the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) now awaiting ratification of the university senate, was designed to plug all loop holes in the previous regulations which allowed medical students to beat the system and overstay.

While congratulating the medical doctors, the provost told them that the journey had just begun in their pursuit of greater heights in their medical career, adding that “the journey of climbing to higher levels in the medical profession is tough, demanding and tortuous, it requires absolute dedication and persistent hand work after a first degree, you must strive to train and specialise in any branch of medicine.”

Presenting the 29 medical graduands to the Registrar, MDCN, Dr. Tajudeen Sanusi for induction into the medical profession, the Dean, Faculty of Clinical Medicine, Prof. Frank Ezugwu, expressed satisfaction with the academic performance of the graduands throughout the duration of their studies and described them as worthy in character and learning.
Ezugwu enjoined the graduands to work hard and show high level of discipline in their medical practice, even as he challenged them to always ensure that the health of their patients is paramount in their medical practice.

He cautioned that any act of negligence of their patients’ care could cause the withdrawal of their professional license, stressing that one way of appreciating their alma mater is to show excellence and commitment to their duty as good ambassadors.

Earlier, the chairman of the occasion and former Provost, College of Medicine, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Anambra State, Emeritus Prof. Frank Akpuaka, urged the MDCN to increase the number of students allocated for admission into the college, adding that his call became necessary in view of the rapid progress recorded by the institution in staff, facilities and improved infrastructure.

Akpuaka maintained that ESUT College of Medicine has better facilities than those in some African countries that enjoy higher quota of students’ intake and described the college as unique, following the location of all classrooms, hostels and hospital in one compound for the convenience of lecturers and students
He also prayed God to grant the young medical graduands’ heart desires even as he urged them to remain focused.

Apart from Dr, Chinasa Peace Ngene, who won the best graduating doctor award of the 2017 sixth batch, the university also announced prizes for seven best graduating doctors.
The Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, was represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Fintan Ekochin. The event also attracted dignitaries from the medical profession and the academia.