Don’t relocate abroad, UNILORIN VC tells newly-inducted medical graduands

Sulyman Abdulkareem, the vice-chancellor of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), has advised the newly-inducted medical graduands of the institution against relocating abroad.

According to NAN, the VC spoke on Tuesday at the 37th induction ceremony of batch ‘B’ 2021 medical graduands of the institution’s college of health sciences.

Abdulkareem said the graduands should leverage existing opportunities in the country to provide and improve healthcare in Nigeria.

“Their services are greatly needed in suburban areas rather than looking for quick ways to relocate abroad,” he said.

The VC decried the increasing rate of Nigerian medical practitioners relocating abroad, describing the trend as “disheartening.”

“It is disheartening to note that we may have just trained you to become assets to other countries. This brain drain leaves the country unable to benefit from the investments it had made in your training,” he added.

“Let me make it clear to you that the nation needs your services dearly and is willing to benefit from your expertise.”

Abdulkareem said the insitution would continue to provide an enabling environment for the training of medical practitioners and other health workers.

In his address, Olanrewaju Adedoyin, provost of the college of health sciences, expressed confidence that the 11 inductees would keep up “the nobility of the medical profession.”

Baba Issa, Kwara chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), also encouraged the graduands to contribute their quotas to the Nigerian healthcare system and not be discouraged by the challenges.