Encomiums As UNIZIK Inducts Her 72 Medical Graduands In Grand Style

                                   Cross section of medical graduands

                                                                medical graduands

                           Cross Section of Academia at the event

It was jubilation time , praising to God and appreciation of their parents as well as fun for the 72 successful medical graduands of the Faculty of Medicine , College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra state of Nigeria during its 36th Induction ceremony of her Medical Graduands today at the Gilbert Uzodike Auditorium, Nnewi where the Teaching hospital is located reports odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com.

This brings to 1792 medical doctors graduated from the College of Medicine of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka even as the pack of graduates were led by a female medical doctor ,Egwuekwe Sopuruchukwu Ogonna who won four awards out of five available awards of the College. Dr Okafor  Chika Nkiru another female doctor took one award away from her when she delivered a baby in 5^th MBBS but Dr Egwuekwe still emerged the overall best medical student.

                     Prof Ikechebelu , Provost College of Medicine Prof C.C Ezechukwu and Prof Brain Adinma Rep of Prof Ahaneku

 

The Best graduating right Dr Egwuekwe and second runner up Dr Okafor Nkiru
They were clad in superfluous black and white to match and glittering in all spheres courtesy of the outgoing Dean of  the Medicine Prof Joseph I Ikechebelu  (JP) an expert on Endoscopy and Sub Dean faculty of Medicine as well as Chairman Planning Committee of the 36^th Induction ceremony Dr Charles .I Okafor . They had advocated for good dress sense for the medical students rejecting the shabby and half naked dress sense often worn by some of the students.  They wanted the to appear in their best at all times in order to set the pace in the community while serving humanity.

In his speech, odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com reports that the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joseph Ahaneku, charged the graduands to be worthy ambassadors of the institution and help to mobilize resources to facilitate its continued production of high-level manpower for the country and humanity.

Prof. Ahaneku, who was represented by Prof Brian Adinma, congratulated the graduands, stating that the event was a crowning point for the many tedious years they put into medical studies, "I am most delighted to be presented at this 36th induction ceremony of our new seventy-two (72) medical graduands, the first I am attending in my capacity as the fifth substantive Vice-Chancellor of the University.

The Dean, faculty of medicine, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, thanked the Chief Medical Director of NAUTH, Prof. Anthony
Igwegbe, and the board of NAUTH for the provision of conducive learning and teaching environment and prayed
for God’s guidance on the graduands even as he congratulated also the parents and guardians of the graduands for their support to them throughout their study period.
Prof Ikechebelu who is a professor of Obstertrics/ Gynaecology advised the doctors to ensure they are plunging in areas where they have comparative advantage , adding that a lot of young doctors  have failed out of the Residency programme in pursuit of specialization in clinical medicine when their natural ability is in biomedical research or policy issues. 

He noted that such personalities would have become great researchers/ mentors in the university system or good police makers in the ministry or international organizations.   

On his part, Dr Nnadozie Paul Obiegbu, the permanent secretary, ministry of health, Anambra state charged the granduands to put God first in all the duties and discover themselves, "remember, Proverb 16:2 and 3 says that all the ways of man are clean in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your works unto the Lord and your thoughts will be established".

Dr Nnadozie further reminded the graduands that the patient remains the most important person in any hospital. Therefore should be treated with respect and manage them well, even as he urged the graduands to be compassionate.

Speaking on behalf of other medical graduands  Dr Egwuekwe  Sopuruchukwu Ogonna assured their guardians that they would make them proud having imbibed enough virtues and learning coupled with hard work from their lecturers and encouraged those who could not make it not to lose hope as they would soon join them as happy graduands.  She appreciated the contributions of parents and guardians as well as spouses in making them what they are today even as she had earlier given glory to God for the successes they recorded individually and collectively.    

A parent Dr Okwuchukwu Eze lauded the University college of Medicine for the unique way they handled their students to graduation as according to him the difference is clear between them and other institutions graduands in medicine and thanked parents and Guardians for the sacrifice they did in making the day a reality.

As well Chief Chigbo Kenneth expressed Joy that Dr Claudia was able to make the race at he end of tortuous journey and asked God to continue to guide the doctors to place human life and sacrifice first rather than other considerations.   
Expressing joy after the induction in an interview , one of the medical graduands, Dr Chigbo Claudia Nkechi expressed happiness over the induction saying, "today is my happiest day being a medical doctor of my dream. I thank God for his mercies and grace during my studies on campus.

‘’You know it is not all of us that started this journey ended it, therefore may glory be to God Almighty for making it possible and my parents, my lecturers and everybody here today to celebrate with us. May god bless them all in Jesus name---Amen".

The medical students choir performed wonderfully before they were sworn in collectively and individually starting by 1.04 pm by Prof Ikechebelu and others.  The doctors took the Physicians oath.

 The parents and guardians of the medical graduates were too many that the Gilbert Metu Uzodike Ultra Modern Auditorium of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH, Nnewi campus could not contain them. And to avoid unnecessary crowding the arena , each doctor was given cards for his or her relatives that would witness the show inside while hundreds of guests defied the intermittent heavy downpour to celebrate with the doctors.

Part One (more to come)

                                                        Dr Chigbo Claudia Nkechi with Odogwu