Nursing Council Inducts 98 UNIOSUN Graduates As VC Urges Competence, Compassion

The Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Osogbo, in collaboration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), has inducted 98 graduates of Nursing Science into the nursing profession, with a call on them to uphold professional ethics, protect patients’ dignity and demonstrate compassion in the discharge of their duties.

The induction and oath-taking ceremony, held on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, marked the eighth edition of the university’s induction ceremony for nursing graduates.

Representing the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the NMCN, Dr Al-Hassan Ndagi, Mrs Chioma Agatha Chigbo urged the newly inducted nurses to take their internship seriously, remain open to learning and avoid preventable mistakes in the course of their professional practice.

Chigbo advised the graduates to embrace humility, honesty and discipline, stressing that the sensitive nature of nursing demands strict adherence to professional standards.

She also encouraged them to pursue higher qualifications and explore opportunities for career advancement without compromising the ethical principles guiding the profession. She commended their lecturers for their academic and moral contributions to their training.

Delivering the induction lecture, Professor Funmilola Adenike Faremi of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, charged the inductees to treat patients with dignity and provide quality care without discrimination based on religion, social status or cultural background.

“You must be a nurse that tells the truth. Do not document what you have not done,” Faremi said, warning against falsification of records and other unethical practices capable of endangering patients’ lives.

She stressed that nursing goes beyond routine job responsibilities, describing it as a calling that requires compassion, competence, problem-solving skills and a willingness to translate theoretical knowledge into practical care.

Faremi also urged the new nurses to listen attentively to patients’ complaints, follow established medical protocols and remain unbiased in their professional decisions.

Addressing the challenges confronting the profession, the lecturer identified nursing workforce shortages, the migration of experienced nurses, rising chronic diseases, delayed access to healthcare, mental health challenges and maternal health concerns as issues requiring urgent attention.

She urged the inductees not to allow staffing shortages to become an excuse for neglecting their responsibilities, encouraging them to mentor younger nurses and contribute to addressing the challenges facing the healthcare sector.

The Nursing Elder of the Day, Professor Rasheed Akinade Salawu, congratulated the graduates and commended their parents and guardians for their sacrifices in ensuring their education despite prevailing challenges.

Salawu urged the new nurses to be diligent and committed to their duties, stressing that professional excellence and dedication to patient care would earn them recognition and reward.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic, Research, Innovation and Partnerships), Professor Adetunji Lawrence Kehinde, urged the inductees to uphold integrity, discipline and accountability.

Adebooye said nurses must combine professional competence with compassion, noting that their actions could determine patients’ recovery and influence public confidence in healthcare delivery.

He also charged them to embrace continuous learning, teamwork, critical thinking and technological innovation to remain relevant in the evolving healthcare sector.

At the ceremony, gifts were presented to outstanding graduates, including Fasola Mojolaoluwa Treasure, Overall Best Graduating Student; Akinyode Priscilla Oluwafolabomi, Best in Leadership and Best in Character; and Lawrence Esther Oluwatomi, Best in Research.

The university reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening nursing education through improved laboratory facilities, upgraded equipment, staff development and the provision of current academic resources.