Japa: Remember the country that nurtured you, Commissioner urges nursing graduates
Commissioner for Health in Ogun, Dr Tomi Coker, has urged the graduating students of Ogun College of Nursing Sciences, Abeokuta, to remember the roots that nurtured them, in spite of the allure of greener pastures.
Speaking at the first combined convocation ceremony of the college on Thursday in Abeokuta, Coker reminded the graduating students that despite its challenges, the Nigerian healthcare system had provided the foundation upon which they would build their careers.
She noted that graduates from the college remained one of the best in the country, stressing the need for their brilliance, innovation and unwavering professional dedication to Ogun and Nigeria at large.
“As nurses and midwives, you are the backbone of our healthcare system. Your role is critical, not only in providing care but in leading change, advocating for patients and driving improvements in health outcomes.
“The knowledge and skills you have acquired are invaluable. I urge you to continue seeking opportunities for growth and development.
“Pursue further education, engage in research and embrace new technologies and methodologies,” she said.
Coker expressed gratitude to Gov. Dapo Abiodun for his unwavering support and tireless investment as a visionary leader in nursing education.
She said the governor was committed to ensuring accreditation of all state-owned schools of nursing and midwifery by Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and National Board for Technical Education and their transition to the current collegiate system.
In her address, the college Provost, Dr Omotade Sodimu, noted that the school remained one of the oldest tertiary institutions in the state, contributing significantly to the development of education in the health sector.
According to Sodimu, the college has continued to produce skilled and competent nurses and midwives essential for improving the health and wellbeing of the people.
She stated that the first set of students admitted through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would soon gain admission, thus enabling nursing students to be mobilised for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.
Sodimu expressed appreciation to the commissioner for health for her immense contributions toward achieving this milestone.
In her remarks, the best graduating student, Miss Busola Yakubu, urged her colleagues to stand as testaments to the power of education, using their knowledge, skills and experience to make a difference and change the world for better.
Yakubu advised her colleagues to always remember the values and principles that had shaped them into the individuals they are today.
She stressed the need for embracing continuous learning, fostering creativity and cultivating compassion to make positive impacts in communities and the world at large.
“We must use our knowledge and skills to break barriers, challenge the status quo and drive innovation. We must be the leaders, thinkers and problem-solvers that our world needs,” she said.
