Lagos State First Lady, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has charged newly trained Nurses to contribute their quota towards the achievement of effective healthcare delivery in the State.
Speaking at the third joint graduation ceremony of the Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Lagos State College of Nursing, Igando, the First Lady expressed happiness to welcome the newly trained Nurses into the esteemed medical profession that has a unique role of saving lives and making a positive impact on humanity after rigorous academic activities in the past years.
She reiterated that medical professionals must have a clear understanding of the unique role of nurses in healthcare delivery and patient management control, stressing that nurses are the first point of contact for all patients in any given healthcare facility.
Dr. Sanwo-Olu, represented at the event by Mrs. Abimbola Idowu, affirmed that nursing is a dignified and respected profession that can never go into extinction, noting that it is more than a career but a calling that requires the endowment of natural qualities such as compassion, patience and calmness required to care for people in time of great pain and need.
She noted that the Nursing profession is more or less service to humanity rather than a mere profession, urging the new graduates to concentrate on rendering valuable service for the benefit of society in line with the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration.
Also speaking at the event, the Special Adviser on Education, Barr. Tokunbo Wahab, advised the graduands to put their training into best professional practices to engender positive changes in the management and administration of hospitals.
The Special Adviser, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr. Kasali Adeniran, added that the government has continued to invest massively into vocational and entrepreneurship skills development programmes for growth of the local economy by supporting young entrepreneurs for greater self-reliance.
While commending the Provost and management of the College for helping the State government to train and provide needed manpower in hospitals and other health institutions to achieve an improved and efficient healthcare delivery system, Wahab charged the team to remain focused and committed to excellence.
In her contribution, the Provost, Lagos State College of Nursing, Mrs. Oyefunso Orenuga, stated that the convocation is the third ceremony of the prestigious College of Nursing in Nigeria, where graduates are produced and equipped with competent skills to compete globally with their counterparts.
She added that this year’s convocation theme: “Nursing Career in a Changing World: Periscoping Opportunities to Excel, Lead and Innovate”, is aimed at bringing out the best in the profession to fight the war against the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the globe.
The Provost explained that the College is graduating students as Registered Nurse (RN) and the Registered Midwife (RM) respectively.
Stating that success comes from hard work, commitment, dedication, passion and above all integrity, Oyenuga urged the graduands to put the skills and experience acquired at the College to good use because nurses are in high demand locally and internationally.
The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentation of meritorious awards to Her Excellency, Dr. (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; the Special Adviser on Education, Barr. Tokunbo Wahab and Mrs. Esther Oshunluyi as well as a posthumous award to Late Mrs. Rafiat Onisiwo for their immense support to the Nursing profession in Lagos State.
