The Oyo State Government has restated its dedication to producing well-trained and competent nurses capable of delivering healthcare services with professionalism and compassion.
This assurance was given by the Commissioner for Health and Chairman of the College’s Governing Council, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, during the 27th convocation ceremony of the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery. The event was held at the institution’s campus in Eleyele, Ibadan, on Tuesday.
A total of 469 students graduated at the ceremony. Among them were 31 distinguished students who received honors, while three were specially recognized with the Provost’s Awards for outstanding conduct, excellence in practicals, and best performance in nutrition. Adetunji Shukurat, a Basic Nursing graduate, was named the overall best student.
Dr. Ajetunmobi highlighted that the institution’s success reaffirms its status as a center of excellence, further contributing to Nigeria’s reputation for academic achievement. She noted the College’s longstanding reputation for academic rigor and discipline, which continues to produce highly capable nursing professionals.
“This convocation is a major milestone in the lives of our new nurses. They have been trained at one of the top nursing institutions in the country and are now prepared to serve with competence and honor. Our administration remains focused on ensuring that every community in the state has access to skilled and ethical nursing care,” she said.
Also addressing the graduates, Abiwumi Owoade, wife of the Alaafin of Oyo and an alumna of the College, urged them to embrace leadership and innovation in their careers. She encouraged the new nurses to become agents of transformation in society, urging them to “set the pace, overcome limitations, and provide solutions in a world that is constantly evolving.”
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Salihu Adelabu, praised the College for its significant contribution to developing healthcare professionals, adding that its impact is felt nationwide.
In her speech, the Provost of the College, Gbonjubola Owolabi, expressed gratitude to parents and guardians for trusting the institution with their children’s education. She emphasized the College’s role in providing vital mid-level healthcare professionals who are essential to improving the state’s health sector.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the Alumni Association, led by its global president, Gabriel Ajeigbe, recognizing their support as instrumental to the institution’s progress.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including leaders from sister institutions such as the Oyo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Catholic College of Nursing (Oke-Offa), Federal Cooperative College, Lead City University, Peri-Operative Nursing School, and University College Hospital, Ibadan.