By VICTOR ADEOTI

Prof. Akeem Lasisi, Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun, Osun, said the institution admitted more female students for 2023/2024 academic session due to its passion for girl-child education.

Lasisi, said this during the second matriculation and investiture ceremony of the university’s pioneer Chancellor, Alhaji Ibrahim Al-Amin El-Kanemi, the Sheu of Dikwa, on Thursday in Ila-Orangun.

The vice-chancellor said that out of the 673 students that were admitted, 429 were female students, which according to him, constitutes 63.7 per cent.

Lasisi said that 2,069 candidates applied to the university, but only 673 were offered admission into 13 programmes of the university.

“I congratulate the matriculants and your parents for being the successful ones among the 2,069 applicants.

“I must, especially felicitate with the female students who constituted 63.7 per cent out of 673.

“This is the confirmation that our university has keyed, from onset, into the era of the advocacy for girl-child education and female leadership”, he said.

Lasisi urged the new students to be diligent in their studies to justify the labour of their parents.

The VC said that in the last year of his administration, he had worked closely with stakeholders of the university to pursue and realise the purpose of the university.

“My administration has seen to the construction of the faculty of basic sciences, health centre, science laboratory building, library and the university teaching hospital,” he said.

Al-Amin El-Kanemi, after his investiture, pledged to serve diligently and advocate for academic pursuits in the institution.

“Together, we will strive to create an environment that fosters intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and a spirit of innovation”, he said.

The Chancellor urged the new students to go forth with courage, hope and knowledge to achieve greatness.

Earlier in his lecture, Prof. Adewale Akinsola (Emeritus), said the new trend of setting up specialised medical universities was conceivably a critical strategy to confront the serious and formidable challenges in the health care delivery.

Akinsola, spoke on the topic “Leveraging on the Emergence of Specialised Medical Universities to Bridge the Performance Gaps in Nigeria’s Healthcare Delivery”.

The don said that there was a frequent attrition of the personnel through the famous “JAPA syndrome”.

“In the last one or two years, over 2,000 health professionals, including doctors/nurses/physiotherapist and laboratory scientists have been affected.

“We should harness the potentials of the specialised medical university to build a resilient, responsive and effective health community, with good health indices, contributing to the socio-economic well-being of the nation”, he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 673 admitted students later took matriculation oath. (NAN)

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