The induction of the first set of medical doctors of the Benjamin S. Carson School of Medicine (BCSM) of Babcock University, Ilishan Remo, Ogun State, was more emotional than ceremonial.
While the Acting Registrar of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr T. Sanusi called on each candidate to receive their certificate and a handshake, gallantly dressed, proud parents, guardians and well-wishers cheered on, some whispering, “That’s my girl”, and “look at my son.”
More emotional, however, were the stories each inductee told, of the faith they held to study medicine at the private university, as well as the testimonies of the Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Ademola Tayo, on ensuring that all 13 students of the class graduated with good grades exactly five years after they were admitted into the medical school through direct-entry.
Provost of the Medical School, Prof Iheanyichukwu Okoro told unending stories of how he relatively dropped everything else to commence the school of medicine at the call of the former Vice Chancellor (VC), Prof Kayode Makinde seven years ago.
“We made sure not to admit any student for two years after we commenced. Rather, we spent those two years on preparation. We were always so prepared that when the MDCN came for the first stage of accreditation, we were ready for stage two. It is not as if we had the money but the VC then (Prof Makinde) was so determined and the current VC (Prof Tayo) caught the fever when he came on board. He told me that if we need to break the bank to make this work, he was ready to. I am glad we did not have to do that though. But this so helped us that in three years, we had completed the entire three stages of accreditation,” he said.
Counseling the first set, Prof Okoro said: “I congratulate you for having the courage to be used as guinea pigs. It is not easy pioneering a programme, especially a medical one. Please be the best you can be. Do not become qualified quacks by delving into cases that are beyond your competence… you are being sent to change the medical landscape of this country. You must endeavour to improve yourselves in the profession. Distinguish yourself in the profession. Once you are good, you will have more work. Move forward and be specialists.”
Also speaking, Prof Tayo noted that the university was graduating its first medical doctors five years after they were admitted, a feat that has not been paralleled in Nigeria in the last 20 years.
He counseled the inductees to be healers rather than mere doctors, so that they can affect the spiritual body as well as the physical one.
“Let me warn you that your profession requires of you, honesty, hardwork, patience and empathy. As you move out there to practice, I urge you to maintain the high standard for which this university is known… I implore you to build your future success on a foundation of integrity, good character, a compassionate lifestyle and honest dealings with the people you meet and those who come under your care.”
Another major highlight was a 40-minute speech that was more of reminiscence by the first professor of Medicine in Nigeria, T. O. Ogunleye, who charged the inductees to uphold integrity and adapt quickly to their environment as they become house officers.
The 94 year-old medical elder of the medical school, who referred to the inductees as his professional grandchildren, said: “Remember that you too can be great if you want to be. All you need now is the will to do, as where there is a will, there is a way.”
The graduands shared emotional tales of their journey through medical school.
David Adebajo, who had already bagged a first degree in Physiology from the University of Ibadan, said he was elated to find out that he graduated with good grades, despite losing his father four days to his final examinations.
He wrote on his page in the event’s programme that: “After University, I did my NYSC in Abuja at a bank where I was awarded Best operations corper staff. I later worked as a full time staff for one year then resigned to pursue my true ambition in Medicine and Surgery. Thanks to the BCSM, my 28-year dream has finally come to fruition. Mt ambition is to become an orthopaedic surgeon to carry on my late father, Dr Basil Adebajo’s legacy.”
Another new doctor, Olanrewaju Olasehinde resolved to study Biochemistry at Olabisi Onabanjo University, when his dream to study medicine proved almost impossible.
“With several attempts to study medicine in federal universities, the opportunity then came in Benjamin Carson School of Medicine, which is a divine plan A for me to be a medical missionary. The dream eventually came into reality in December, 2016,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Enobong Udoh, a mother of three with a BSc in Nursing Science from the University of Calabar , said: “I always admired medical doctors and wanted to be one even after my first degree. Now that I have completed my undergraduate training, I plan to be the best I can be in this medical profession and ultimately using my profession to propagate God’s word.
A Liberian, Whyllah Blojay was inspired to study medicine, having lost loved ones to various civil clashes in his country.
He said: “As a child growing up in the midst of war, I watched people being killed and also injured and dying without medical care, women losing their babies and their lives as a result of unskilled birth attendance and health workers. The saddest event was the death of my uncle from misguided bullets… hence, the zeal to my university admission to study and become a medical doctor.
However, after graduating from the University of Liberia, Whyllah was not satisfied , hence he jumped at the opportunity to study at the BCSM.
He said: “I saw it as an opportunity to fulfill my dream. Many were the challenges I faced but God saw me through.”
Other inductees include Linda Osuntade, Olutayo Odusanya, Oluwaseun Alade, Ikwuoma Eleweke, Eson Nwaka, Ekomobong Mbon, Emmanuel Michael-Chikezie, Enyida Meze and Ayobami Adesuyi.
