By Donald Iorchir
Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Michael U. Adikwu, has advised Nigerians who view the country as unstable and unworthy of their sacrifice to think twice before jumping at such dangerous conclusions which had largely led the youth astray.
He said despite the negative predictions of dooms-day prophets about the eminent collapse of Nigeria as a nation, the country has continued to wax stronger even in the face of economic and political rough weather tossing the ship of state in every direction.
Adikwu, who spoke at the induction ceremony of the first set of graduands of the university’s College of Health Sciences on Saturday, urged the graduating students to take pride in their passing out since many of “those who steal the nation’s wealth end up wasting the money on kidney failure in overseas hospitals.”
Continuing, he said: “Those who steal our money waste it on kidney failures in overseas hospitals. I believe that with people like you who have been well grounded, people from other lands will come to Nigeria for medical tourism.
“It does not take long to change a system. All it takes is consistency and belief in God. There is no problem under the sun that cannot be solved. I commend your courage thus far and this should spur you to greater heights as you leave the shores of the university.”
He commended the graduands for their patience alluding to the fact that “others who read medicine, but were not patient have died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe for greener pastures.”
Provost of the college, Prof. Kareem I. Airede, expressed delight that the eighteen graduands with-stood the rigours of medical education and the problems associated with accreditation of the collage to become full-fledged pioneer doctors of the University of Abuja’s College of Health Sciences.
“I am exceptionally glad that the process of successfully passing the final MBBS examinations and being formally inducted into the medical profession by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) is returning to what it used to be 20 years ago,” he said.
An eminent educationist, Prof. Adetokumbo Ademola Luca, who was honoured by the university, urged the graduands to be true to their oath of service as physicians.
