Elizade University has recorded a major milestone in medical laboratory science education, with its graduating students achieving a 100 per cent success rate in both the First and Final Professional Examinations of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN). Eight of the graduates also earned First Class honours.
The achievement was announced at the university’s third induction and oath-taking ceremony for newly qualified Medical Laboratory Scientists, where speakers charged the inductees to uphold professional ethics, maintain high standards of accuracy and contribute to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The Acting Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Dr Folorunso Dada, described the feat as a historic first for the programme, attributing the success to the dedication of the students, commitment of lecturers and clinical instructors, support of the university management, and sacrifices of parents and guardians.
He said the achievement was the outcome of years of rigorous academic work, practical sessions, laboratory demonstrations, clinical postings and research activities.
Dada urged the newly qualified scientists to maintain the highest standards of professional integrity, warning them against compromising laboratory test results.
He stressed that every specimen represented a human life, adding that accuracy, honesty and accountability must remain fundamental principles of medical laboratory practice.
The Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Professor Mary Idowu Edward, described Medical Laboratory Science as a cornerstone of modern medicine, noting that reliable laboratory results were essential for disease diagnosis, treatment monitoring and clinical decision-making.
She said healthcare professionals must justify the trust reposed in them by the public through diligence, competence and ethical conduct.
Edward also encouraged the inductees to embrace lifelong learning, particularly in emerging fields such as molecular diagnostics and artificial intelligence, to remain relevant in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.
The guest speaker, Professor Olufemi Emmanuel Akanni of Osun State University, identified four critical responsibilities for the newly qualified scientists: upholding professional ethics, complying with quality management systems and procedures, pursuing continuous professional development through training and retraining, and contributing to the growth of Medical Laboratory Science.
He maintained that academic qualifications must be matched by professional competence, strict adherence to established standards and a commitment to advancing the profession.
Akanni also highlighted the growing relevance of artificial intelligence in medical laboratory practice, urging the inductees to embrace technological innovations.
“Artificial Intelligence will not replace Medical Laboratory Scientists, but those who use AI will replace those who do not,” he said.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the MLSCN, Dr Donald Ibe Ofili, represented by Mr Stanley Nkemakolam, commended Elizade University for its achievements and reaffirmed the council’s commitment to sustaining its partnership with the institution.
He emphasised the importance of responsible conduct, accountability and compliance with the professional standards governing medical laboratory practice.
According to him, public confidence in healthcare delivery depends significantly on the reliability and integrity of laboratory services.
The Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Philip Oguntunde, represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences, Professor Joseph Fabayo, congratulated the graduates and commended the university’s staff, parents and regulatory authorities for their contributions to training competent healthcare professionals.
He charged the inductees to uphold integrity, continually improve their knowledge and serve as worthy ambassadors of the institution through excellence and service to humanity.
Oguntunde also underscored the importance of quality professional training in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, noting that laboratory accuracy was crucial to diagnosis, disease surveillance and effective treatment.
In her valedictory address, the class valedictorian, Miss Promise Itikpan, described the examination success and academic distinctions as the beginning of a demanding professional journey.
She said the graduates recognised the responsibilities accompanying their qualification and pledged to uphold accuracy, ethical conduct and continuous learning while placing human life at the centre of their professional practice.
Itikpan expressed confidence that the newly inducted scientists would demonstrate their competence and make meaningful contributions to healthcare delivery.
