• Heart of healthcare gets boost as UNILAG inducts 28 nurses into medical profession
By Chukwuma Umeorah
For years, they laboured, burning the midnight oil.They faced a multitude of challenges, including
unpredictable or distorted academic calendars due to strikes and insecurity, poor infrastructure and financial restrictions, among others that could have affected their overall academic performance.
But they remained resilient, dogged and determined and, finally’ came out with flying colours.
Let’s we forget: They are Nigerians imbued with the never-say-die spirit. They are newly graduated nurses of our land.
On April 24, the 5th nursing induction and award ceremony was held by the Department of Nursing Science, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos. At the event, which took place at the Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos, 28 successful graduands were inducted into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
The best graduating students from the department were recognized and presented with awards at the event. The overall best graduating student, Ms Jimoh Adefunke, appreciated the college management, lecturers, parents, guardians, colleagues and well-wishers for providing the platform and support for their training.
On the secret of her remarkable performance, Adefunke told Daily Sun: “While growing up, my mother used to tell us that anything worth doing is worth doing well. I think that inspired me to make conscious effort to excel in any given task.”
One of the outstanding inductees, Mrs Jennifer Ogonna Ngene, described the official induction into the nursing and midwifery council as dream realized. She told Daily Sun: “With overwhelming joy and gratitude in my heart, I am proud to share that I have officially been inducted into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria as a registered nurse/midwife. This moment is more than just a professional milestone — it’s the fulfillment of a long-held dream, one built through sleepless nights, early morning lectures, endless practical sessions, and a deep, unwavering passion for the art and science of caring.
“The journey was not easy. It was filled with pages upon pages of textbooks, long hours in the library, and countless group assignments that tested both our patience and teamwork. From in-course assessments to case studies, presentations, and skill labs, each moment brought its own unique challenge, and its own invaluable lesson.”
She volunteered that they were stretched academically, emotionally, and physically, but they rose to the occasion every single time.
Ngene further said: “Clinical rotations were a whole other chapter — a space where theory met reality. I still remember the first time I stepped into the ward, nervous yet eager to learn. From observing procedures to administering care under supervision, those moments shaped me. They taught me compassion, resilience, and the importance of listening, not just to symptoms, but to people.
“Behind this achievement are so many who carried me — my loving husband, my children, my siblings, my mother, friends who became my backbone, lecturers who challenged and inspired me, as well as colleagues who turned into sisters and brothers. Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, late-night pep talks, and unwavering belief in me. I could not have done this without you.
“As I take this next step into the noble profession of nursing/midwifery, I do so with a heart committed to service, and hands ready to heal. The road ahead is long, but I am walking it with pride, purpose, and a spirit of compassion. Here’s to every sacrifice, every breakthrough, and every life that will be touched along the way. The journey continues — and I’m just getting started.”
At the event, the Dean of the Faculty of Nursing, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Prof. Prisca Adejumo, urged the government and stakeholders to prioritize investment in nursing education and workforce development, describing it as a crucial path toward achieving economic growth, national health security, and gender empowerment.
Adejumo, while delivering the keynote lecture, charged the new nursing graduates to make meaningful impacts in the profession while also focusing on self development. “Wake up. Start doing something that improves you, that gives you value. That’s how you stay relevant globally,” she said.
The lecture themed: “Our nurses, our future, caring for nurses strengthening economies,” also revealed the ratio of nurses to population in Nigeria as 1 to 1,160 as against the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommendation of 1 to 300. Citing the economic relevance of nurses, Adejumo pointed out that every $1 invested in nursing leads to a $4 return in economic growth. “Countries that increase the nurse-to-patient ratio see 15 per cent fewer hospital deaths, shorter hospital stays, more patient satisfaction, and lower rates of maternal and infant deaths,” she added.
Adejumo cited Rwanda as an example, saying that heavy investment in nurse education led to a 67 per cent drop in maternal deaths within six years. She warned that ignoring nursing comes with a cost. The global economy loses $1 trillion every year due to nurse shortages, while Africa loses $2 billion annually due to nurse emigration.
“Those who stay behind are overwhelmed, doing the work of many. It’s draining, and it affects their mental health,” she said.
According to her, hospitals spend up to 9 per cent of their budgets covering for absenteeism and staff turnover caused by burnout. “If we choose to invest, we’ll see better health services and stronger public health systems. That’s how you achieve universal health coverage,” she said.
She further explained that 90 per cent of nurses are women, so investing in nurses is also a way to empower women and support families. “If you support a nurse, you’re supporting a whole community,” she said.
Highlighting broader benefits, Adejumo noted that each new nurse supports three to five indirect jobs. She also said better nursing education could reduce avoidable healthcare costs by $500 million yearly and grow Nigeria’s GDP by 1.5 per cent. This is even as she urged the government to create a National Nursing Workforce Strategy (2025–2035) and include nurses in development and economic planning.
Speaking on the brain drain within the medical profession, Adejumo said that if adequate facilities and equipments are provided, health practitioners would not leave the country. According to her, “you do not expect them to stay when you cannot provide what they need to be as competitive and efficient as their counterparts abroad. Besides, what is thing pay of the average health worker in Nigeria when compared to other countries.”
She concluded by calling for fair wages, better working conditions, and safety for nurses, warning that nurses should not go to work fearing assault or abduction.
Earlier in his address, the Provost of the College, Prof. Ademola Oremosu—who represented the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, charged the inductees to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and serve as role models in the nursing profession. “Be worthy ambassadors of the College of Medicine. Let integrity be your watchword and remain truthful in your duties alongside other members of the medical team,” he said.
He reminded the graduates to consistently adhere to the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and to uphold the integrity of the nursing profession. Expressing confidence in their future, he noted: “Many of you will rise to become outstanding nurses, bringing pride to your alma mater, the nation, and the global community. As you step into the world, strive to leave a lasting legacy in your department—one that will inspire those coming behind you.”