..says 374 inducted from Bowen since 2008/09 acdemic session
The management of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, led by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jonathan Babalola, has presented another 56 of its medical graduates for the 2023/24 academic session for induction by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
To date, the MDCN has inducted a total of 374 Bowen University medical graduates into the healthcare sector since the commencement of the programme in the 2008/2009 academic session, according to records from the College of Health Sciences.
Speaking at the 9th MBBS induction ceremony for the 56 medical graduates of the 2023/24 session held last Thursday, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Olufemi Awotunde, noted that the newly inducted medical graduates had undergone comprehensive training in both the science of medicine and the art of healing before being presented for induction.
While congratulating the new inductees, the Provost urged them to be compassionate medical practitioners, innovative thinkers, and ethical leaders, as the world desperately needs such qualities in healthcare.
Dr Okwuokenye, who represented the Registrar of the Council, Dr Fatima Kyari, expressed satisfaction with the performance of Bowen’s medical graduates in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
He highlighted that Bowen University’s emphasis on combining godliness with healthcare education sets its graduates apart from their peers, which has led the Council to encourage the institution to double its admission quota in medicine. Okwuokenye also urged the new inductees to pursue further studies and reach the pinnacle of their careers in their chosen specialisations.
In a related address, Dr. Adebukola Abiola, Medical Director of Preston Healthcare in Amherst, New York, USA, commended Bowen University College of Health Sciences as a renowned institution for producing medical personnel who make a meaningful impact. Dr. Abiola advised the university to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) education into its medical curriculum.
Delivering his lecture on Medical Practice in the Era of Artificial Intelligence, Dr. Abiola stressed that it has become essential for every medical professional to acquire knowledge and education in AI due to its relevance in 21st-century medical practice.
According to him, it is high time medical practitioners, institutions, teaching hospitals, and healthcare centres embrace the advancements in AI. He cautioned that failure to do so could lead to job losses among medical professionals, given the transformative impact of AI across various industries, including healthcare.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Jonathan Babalola, assured the medical community that Bowen University would continue to produce dependable and morally upright medical graduates who are well-trained in their profession. He urged the new inductees to work harmoniously with other allied professions in the health sector to achieve progress in healthcare. He also reiterated that the university would continuously upgrade its teaching and research facilities to maintain and improve the quality of its graduates.
Further emphasising his point, he appealed to the Federal Government to support the development of private universities in the country. He noted that such support would enhance their capacity to produce skilled graduates for the economy.
The university also announced its decision to immediately offer employment to the best graduating students, among the new inductees. These include Dr. Alaba Omotoke Iyimide, Dr. Adeyemo Ayodeji, and Dr. Osikoya Oluwatimilehin, in recognition of their outstanding performances.
