From Chinwe Onuigbo, Awka
Tansian University, Umunya, in Anambra State, Nigeria, has formally inducted its pioneer cohort of Nursing graduates into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), marking a major landmark for the young institution.
The maiden induction and oath-taking ceremony was held at the university’s Oba campus auditorium under the theme “Building a Professional Legacy in Nursing: The Journey Begins.”
Delivering his address, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Eugene Nwadialor, congratulated the inductees and encouraged them to represent the institution with pride wherever their careers take them. “Do not forget where you started,” he told the new nurses. “Today, you are reaping the fruits of your dedication.”
Chair of the occasion, Professor Chinyere Okunna, also commended the graduates, urging them to touch lives through excellence and integrity. She cautioned them never to misuse the professional licenses they have earned.
In her keynote lecture, Dr. Chika Odira, Associate Professor of Nursing Science at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, emphasized the importance of building a professional legacy from the earliest stages of a nursing career.
She noted that today’s rapidly changing global health landscape demands nurses who demonstrate compassion, leadership, ethical judgment, adaptability and continuous learning.
“A professional legacy in nursing is created through the quality of care you provide, the relationships you build, the mentorship you offer and your contributions to the wider health system,” she said.
Dr. Odira outlined key pillars of legacy-building compassionate patient care, lifelong learning, mentorship, leadership, ethical integrity, community engagement and consistent professional excellence. “Your legacy begins now,” she reminded the inductees. “Every decision, every patient interaction contributes to who you become.”
Representing the Registrar/Chief Executive Officer of the NMCN, Stella Godswill urged the graduates to treat every patient with empathy, as they would a family member. She advised them to uphold professionalism both in practice and on social media and reminded students still in training that examination malpractice remains a serious offence.
Head of the Nursing Science Department, Associate Professor Chukwudi Afam Ndu, underscored the gravity of the oath taken by the graduates.
“This oath is not ceremonial,” he said. “It is a binding commitment to place patients at the centre of your practice, uphold dignity, maintain confidentiality, and provide safe, evidence-based and ethical care.”
The ceremony also included a moment of silence in honour of the department’s pioneering Head, Professor Pauline Ezenduka, and a student, Anya Obinna, both of whom passed away during the programme’s early years.
The event was attended by top university officials, including the Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. E. S. C. Obiorah; Pro-Chancellor, Professor Ellis Idemobi; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nwadialor; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Bonaventure Anetoh; Acting Registrar, Rev. Dr. Innocent Anthony Uke; and the Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Professor Felix Arene, among others.
Speaking on behalf of the pioneer class, the class representative, Nnaji Chinecherem Deborah, pledged that the graduates would uphold the values of Tansian University and remain worthy ambassadors.
The best-graduating student described the induction as “not the end of a journey, but the beginning of what the world has been waiting for and we are ready.”
Awards presented during the ceremony included departmental honours to three students, nine awards from the Nigerian University Nursing Science Students Association (NUNSA), seven service awards, and recognition of the twenty best-graduating students, adding colour and celebration to the historic event.