• Bags First Class in Histopathology
By Stanley Uchegbu
With a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) OF 4.84, a graduating student, Mr. Egbe Agala Eja, set a new academic record in Histopathology, Department of Medical Laboratory Science (MLS), University of Calabar (UNICAL). His academic feat was the highpoint of celebration at the recent induction ceremony held at the College of Medical Science.
Agala bagged First Class in Histopathology, the first of its kind in the 29-year history of the department. He was offered automatic employment by the university on completion of internship programme and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Agbala praised the university for remaining the foremost institution for the study of Medical Lab Science in the country and called for improvement in specific areas of weakness. He pleaded with the management to urgently provide modern laboratory equipment in order to enhance advanced analytical procedures like autoradiography, molecular biology. He also called for the provision of conducive lecture halls to facilitate effective teaching and learning.
Other best students were Ezeamaka Ifeanyi, best in Chemical Pathology, Nvani Larry, best in Haematology, Agorye Helen, best in Medical Mycology, Chinda Chime, best in Microbioloy/Parasitology, among others.
Of the lot admitted into the department five years ago, 59 successfully completed the programme. Four other inductees came from the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), making it 63 graduates.
The Vice Chancellor, UNICAL, Prof. Zana Akpagu, led other principal officers to the induction ceremony, including the Medical Science Provost, Prof. Maurice Asuquo, Deputy Provost, Prof. Edisua Itam, Dean of the Faculty of Allied Medical Science, Prof. Francis Useh, and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Prof. Victor Ansa.
Akpagu said the university has provided the necessary manpower that will facilitate learning. He described the profession as one that is very strategic to the health sector and priceless to the nation. He noted that for one to be counted worthy of induction into the profession, one must have shown clear knowledge of ethics of the profession.
The Provost of the Medical Science, Prof. Maurice Asuquo said the event marked the end of the journey started in MLS programme about five years ago.
On the various challenges encountered during the training, Asuquo urged the graduates to count them as building blocks to success.
The acting Registrar of MSLCN, Mr. Godwin Akpitaye, advised the graduates to improve on the knowledge they acquired in school and be conversant with the new techniques.