Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria’s premier private university, recently hosted its 6th white coat ceremony for the 400-level MBBS classes of 2022/23 and 2023/24. The event, held at the university’s Main Library Conference Hall, was graced by esteemed guests and medical practitioners from Edo State.
Addressing the audience, Dr. Eborhime-Oikeh, the Dean of the School of Basic Clinical Medicine, delivered an opening speech titled “The White Coat as a Symbol: Legacy, Purpose, and Significance,” highlighting the white coat’s importance as a representation of humanitarianism, care, and dedication in the medical profession.
Professor Osaghae, the provost of Igbinedion University College of Health Sciences, a renowned medical practitioner and a Distinguished Medical Practitioner (DMP) in Nigeria, emphasised the significance of the white coat. He urged the students to remain steadfast and become pioneers in expanding the frontiers of the medical profession in Nigeria.
The Vice Chancellor, Professor Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye, PhD, FAS, commended the parents and guardians for their unwavering support and commitment to the students’ growth and development. He emphasised the role of the white coat ceremony in medical practice.
Professor Ezemonye also praised the university’s founder and honourable Chancellor, Sir Chief, Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, for his visionary initiative in establishing the first private institution to teach and graduate medical doctors in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The guest speaker, Hon. (Dr.) Otamere G. Aigbogun, a Distinguished Medical Practitioner (DMP), delivered a keynote lecture titled “White Ceremony: The Challenges Ahead.” He stressed the importance of adhering strictly to clinical procedures and shared his own experiences as a source of inspiration for the students. Aigbogun also highlighted his achievements as the former Chairman of the Association of Physicians, General, and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) and his role as a former Local Government Council Chairman.
Highlights of the ceremony included the symbolic gowning of the students by the provost, Professor Godwin Nosakhare Bazuaye, the Chief Medical Director of Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital, and various other dignitaries, including Dr. Nosa Ehigie, Edo State Chapter Chairman of the Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN).
This event served as a remarkable milestone in the education and training of future medical professionals at Igbinedion University, Okada. It showcased the university’s commitment to producing competent and compassionate doctors who will contribute to the advancement of healthcare in Edo State and Nigeria as a whole.
