123 ABUAD graduates inducted as medical doctors
From Priscilla Ediare, Ado Ekiti
Proprietor of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD) Chief Afe Babalola SAN, has blasted the Federal Government for shutting down universities in the country over the 2023 general elections, describing the move as illegal.
Babalola who faulted the closure of the universities by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission( NUC), Prof Abubakar Rasheed following the directive of the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, noted that the Education Minister has no statutory power to direct the NUC to close down universities.
He added, “The directive was issued to the universities by NUC without any notice or consultation whatsoever with the Vice Chancellors, Proprietors and Board of Trustees of all Private universities.”
Babalola made the remarks in 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, on Monday.
He said, ” The forced closure of Nigeria’s universities by the Minister of Education and the NUC has done irreparable damage to students of Nigerian universities.
“Their problems have been worsened by the scarcity of money by banks and Automated Teller Machines(ATM), all of which made transportation back home more dangerous than ever before.
“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.
“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 bayonets, bombs or nuclear warheads. All you need is to destroy the education of the nation.”
Babalola, who decried the closure of tertiary institutions on the ground of “the forthcoming elections and the concerns expressed on the security of staff, students and properties of respective institutions.” pointed out that “the country’s 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 the security of staff, students and properties of respective institutions in jeopardy.”
The senior lawyer faulted the 1999 Constitution, saying: “To me, the problem that is causing apprehension among the transactional politicians is the 1999 Constitution.
“It is this constitution that has made politics the only lucrative business in Nigeria today. This is responsible for the orgy of “do or die” politics.”
In her speech, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, said this year’s induction is particularly significant as a 100 per cent pass was recorded for the new brand of medical doctors.
Prof Olarinde, noted that 22 of the doctors had 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 Modilim Kenechukwu and Okafor Chinaza led their male counterparts with 4 and 2 distinctions respectively”.
The VC charged the new doctors to constantly remember that they are ambassadors of ABUAD and always uphold the code of conduct of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria.
Prof. Olarinde noted that ABUAD’s programme in Medicine and Surgery is the most subscribed Medical School in the entire country, so much so, that the institution can hardly admit 10 per cent of the applicants who want to study Medicine in ABUAD annually.
The Registrar, Medical & Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Dr Tajudeen Sanusi, inducted 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(Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) programme of the institution.
In the Induction lecture, Prof Ayodele Omotosho, a Consultant Cardiologist and former Provost, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, urged the new doctors to enhance the dignity and nobility of the medical profession, adding they should be guided by the principles of the profession.