ESUT VC Advises New Medical Graduates Against Traveling Abroad For Greener Pastures
Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has asked the 48 newly graduated medical doctors from the ESUT College of Medicine, not to “japa” (leave the country) for greener pastures abroad.
Vice-Chancellor of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie has asked the 48 newly graduated medical doctors from the ESUT College of Medicine, not to “japa” (leave the country) for greener pastures abroad.
Okolie spoke Tuesday, during the induction Ceremony of new graduands at the ESUT College of Medicine, Parklane, Enugu.
He was represented on the occasion by his Deputy, Prof Chike Nwoha.
His words, “I want to first and foremost congratulate you on your achievements today. You have demonstrated can-do spirit in undergoing the rigours of your training here for the past six or seven years and today, the world celebrates you.
“The next stage in your life and career is housemanship and thereafter, many of you will go into practice.
“For some of you who maybe considering leaving the country, 'japaing' I want you to have a rethink. What if all us had travelled out of the country?
Earlier, the Chairman of the ceremony, Igwenagu Ngene, charged the new medical doctors to always see the need to give back to the university that nurtured them.
This was even as the Induction Lecturer and former head of Surgery Department, Professor Anthony Edeh, had given reasons why medical graduates needed to travel outside the country after their gratulation
According to Edeh, medical doctors should travel abroad because the system in Nigeria does not encourage them to grow and serve humanity better.
Edeh further noted that systemic failures and government’s inability to provide the needed environment for medical doctors to grow had made leaving the country in search of greener pastures by the youths inevitable.
“I want to encourage you to japa. Travel out. In fact, you need to leave the country as a matter of necessity. The successive governments and leaders have failed medical doctors in the country and there are reasons you need to leave the country, and perhaps come back later.
“Nigeria does not have the state-of-the-art technology you need to bring out the best in you if you must practice here. Secondly, in the time past, there was a training fund for medical doctors but today, where is it?
“You need to travel outside the country most importantly to acquire knowledge. You can go abroad to further your studies, I am not against that.
“However, remember, that if you abandon your country, even your relatives will suffer. You need to look back and come back and help to save our society and serve the people,” he further said.
Administering the Induction Oath, the Registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, Dr Fatima Kyari, represented by the an Assistant Registrar of the Council, Dr Tijani Mandaki, commended the graduates for their steadfastness during their formative years.
Kyari urged the new medical doctors to always remember that while their profession is indeed a noble and highly regarded in the society, the Council would not spare them whenever they ran foul of the ethics of the profession.
“The penalty, if you are found guilty of compromising on you oath, is that you will be deregistered from the Council and your license withdrawn,” she also warned.
Among the personalities who attended the induction ceremony included the Director, Academic Planning, ESUT, Prof Chike Anibeze; Lawmaker representing Orji River State Constituency at the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon Osita Eze and the state Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ndubueze Mbah among others.
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