The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has inducted a new set of graduate nurses on Friday, 18th December 2025, charging them to carry the banner of excellence of the institution and project Nigeria positively wherever their professional journeys may take them.
Speaking at the Nursing Professional Induction Ceremony of the College of Health Sciences at Oduduwa Hall, the Vice-Chancellor of OAU, Prof. Adebayo Bamire, admonished the inductees to see themselves as ambassadors of their families, mentors, college, university and the nation at large. Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Development), Prof. Ibukun Akinyemi, the Vice-Chancellor congratulated both the inductees and their parents for successfully completing a rigorous academic and professional journey.
Prof. Bamire reminded the new nurses that Nigeria has invested immensely in their training and development, urging them never to speak ill of the country but to contribute meaningfully to its progress through exemplary service. He stressed the need for the inductees to sustain high clinical competence by embracing compassion, critical thinking, leadership and an unwavering commitment to humanity.
He further encouraged them to pursue higher academic and professional qualifications, assuring them that there were no limits to what they could achieve if they remained focused, disciplined and upright.
In his remarks, the Chief Medical Director of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Prof. John Okeniyi, congratulated the new nurses and commended their parents for years of sacrifices and steadfast support. Represented by the Deputy Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Akinwumi Komolafe, Okeniyi urged the inductees to uphold the core ideals of Obafemi Awolowo University which competence, character and courage while committing themselves to lifelong learning and professional diligence.
He described nursing as a noble calling that places its practitioners on a global stage, noting that while they may be natives of Nigeria, they are indeed citizens of the world. He charged them to maintain sound cultural orientation, uphold decency, civility, nobility and dignity, and always strive for excellence in all their professional engagements.
Earlier, the Provost of the College of Health Sciences, Prof. Bernice Adegbehingbe, praised the inductees for their resilience and determination throughout years of lectures, clinical postings, community health experiences, research and demanding practical sessions. She noted that their successful transition from students to professionals signified a great responsibility, as they are now entrusted with the lives, dignity and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities.
Prof. Adegbehingbe reminded the inductees that as they took the Florence Nightingale Pledge, they must understand that nursing is not merely a career but a calling that demands empathy, patience, ethical conduct and continuous learning.
She highlighted the rapidly evolving nature of the healthcare sector, driven by technological advances, public health challenges and global health emergencies, stressing the need for adaptive, knowledgeable and compassionate nurses.
She urged them to uphold the “Ife philosophy” of discipline, integrity, service and the pursuit of excellence, and to serve as instruments of healing, hope and positive change wherever they practice, assuring them that a future of great success lies ahead.
Speaking on behalf of the inductees, the Valedictorian, Nurse Victor Afolabi, expressed heartfelt gratitude to God, whom he described as the beginning and the end of their journey.
He thanked their parents, lecturers, dean, heads of department, non-teaching staff and colleagues for their support and collective commitment to success.
Afolabi encouraged his fellow inductees to lead with passion, remain humble and make meaningful impact across the world through their professional skills. He urged them to uphold compassion and empathy as essential values in advancing the medical and nursing professions.
The induction ceremony marked not just the end of an academic chapter, but the beginning of a lifelong commitment to service, excellence and humanity for the newly inducted OAU nurses.
