…inducts 123 graduates into medical profession
By Hope James
The Founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, has condemned the closure of all universities in Nigeria due to the 2023 elections stating that it is harmful to Educational Sector in Nigeria.
Chief Babalola, SAN, noted that the directive to the National Universities Commission, NUC, by the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, was irrational, stating that the Education Minister has no statutory power to direct the NUC to close down the universities.
Babalola, added that the forced closure of the Nigeria’s universities by the Minister of Education and the NUC has done irreparable damage to students of Nigerian universities.
He made this known while delivering his address during the 5th Induction ceremony of 123 medical doctors who just graduated at ABUAD, held at the Alfa Belgore Hall of the institution in Ado-Ekiti yesterday.
According to Babalola, “the problem have been worsened by scarcity of money by banks and automated teller machines, ATM, all of which transportation back home more dangerous than ever before”
“Under the NUC Act of 1974 and the Education (National Minimum Standards and Establishment of Institutions) Act of 1985, the Minister has no statutory power to issue a directive to NUC to close down universities. I refer in particular to section 4(2) of the 1974 (NUC) Act”
“If you want to destroy a nation, you don’t need bayonet,bombs or nuclear warheads. All you need is to destroy the education of the nation”
“The illegal closure has adversely affected the curriculum particularly in respect of private universities which are reputed for their predictable academic calendar and absence of strike actions”
Babalola pointed out that Nigeria have criminal code and other legislations have provisions which the government and law enforcement agents can evoke to deal with any person, whatever his class, who the security agents have reasons to believe as likely to put security of staff, students and properties of respective institutions in jeopardy.
The Registrar, Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, Dr. T.A.B. Sanusi, inducted the 123 medical doctors from the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, ABUAD, into the medical profession.
The induction ceremony is for the 2022 graduating set and the 5th Induction ceremony of the MBBS programme of the institution.
In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said this year’s induction is particularly significant as 100 percent pass was recorded for the new brand medical doctors.
Prof. Olarinde, noted that 22 of the doctors has distinctions at various levels of the professional examinations.
“I must sincerely commend Miss Okafor Ginika Stephanie, for her outstanding performance with 8 distinctions out of the available 11 and Miss Ikuabe Mary-Ann with 7 distinctions. Izunobi Somtochukwu, Modilum Kenechukwu and Okafor Chinaza led their male counterpart with 4 and 2 distinctions respectively”.
The V.C charged the new doctors to constantly remember that they are ambassadors of this great institution and always uphold the code of conduct of the medical and dental council of Nigeria.
Prof. Olarinde, noted that medicine and surgery in the institution is the most subscribed medical school in the entire country, so much so, that we can hardly admit 10 percent of the applicants who want to study medicine in ABUAD annually.