Babcock University has inducted 20 newly qualified medical doctors of the Orion 11 class, reinforcing its contribution to addressing Nigeria’s growing shortage of healthcare professionals.
The doctors were inducted during a special mop-up ceremony held at the 600-seater auditorium of the Benjamin Carson Sr. College of Health and Medical Sciences.
Representing the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Professor Fatima Kyari, the Head of the Registration Department and Assistant Registrar of the Council, Dr. Tijjani Ali Mandaka, described the induction as a defining moment in the careers of the new doctors.
He urged the inductees to practise medicine with empathy, humility and respect for other healthcare professionals, stressing that effective medical practice depends on teamwork.
Mandaka also advised the doctors to secure their housemanship placements within the mandatory two-year period using their provisional registration certificates.
He warned that failure to secure placements within the stipulated period could require the affected doctors to undergo a reassessment examination.
The MDCN representative further cautioned the new doctors against careless use of social media and encouraged them to seek guidance from senior colleagues whenever necessary.
Speaking on behalf of the MDCN leadership, Mandaka reaffirmed the Council’s support for institutions expanding Nigeria’s medical training capacity while maintaining professional standards.
“Our priority is to ensure that every doctor inducted into the profession is competent, compassionate, and ready to serve Nigeria’s healthcare needs,” he said.
He added, “Seek guidance from seniors whenever necessary.”
The Medical Elder, Professor Adeola Adebola Shokunbi, urged the inductees to make compassion and honesty central to their medical practice.
She also encouraged them to pursue continuous medical education, maintain healthy relationships and avoid allowing financial considerations to become their sole motivation for practising medicine.
“A doctor who doesn’t read is a dangerous doctor,” she cautioned.
President/Vice Chancellor of Babcock University, Professor Afolarin Olutunde Ojewole, congratulated the new doctors and their families, reminding them that the quality of care they provide should remain their priority.
“No patient will ask about your graduation date, but about the care you give,” Ojewole said.
The Provost of the College, Professor Adeola Fowotade, described the induction as a covenant with humanity, saying medicine is a calling rooted in service.
She urged the doctors to continue learning, adapt to changes in the profession and practise with genuine concern for their patients.
The induction comes amid concerns over Nigeria’s healthcare workforce shortage, with the country facing a doctor-to-population ratio of about 3.9 doctors per 10,000 people.
The emigration of more than 16,000 Nigerian doctors in recent years has further intensified concerns over the country’s capacity to meet its growing healthcare needs.
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