Gov Aiyedatiwa reaffirms commitment to education, health innovation

 

…As UNIMED holds 7th Convocation, graduates 771 students

…Remain committed to lifelong learning, VC urges graduands

By Precious Oluwole

Ondo State Governor, Dr Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering commitment to strengthening education and promoting healthcare innovation as part of efforts to drive sustainable human capital development in the state.

Speaking as Visitor at the 7th Convocation Ceremony of University of Medical Sciences, Ondo (UNIMED), the Governor emphasised that sustained investment in research, training and modern health solutions remains critical to improving service delivery and positioning the state for long-term growth.

According to him, the convocation was not only a celebration of academic excellence but also a reaffirmation of the collective belief in education as the cornerstone of societal development.

Congratulating the Chancellor, Pro-Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, Governing Council, staff, parents and graduating students, Aiyedatiwa described the occasion as a reward for years of discipline, sacrifice and intellectual rigour.

“You have earned the right to be celebrated. On behalf of the Government and the good people of Ondo State, I congratulate you wholeheartedly. You are graduating from a specialised institution of global relevance, dedicated to training medical and health professionals who will shape the future of healthcare in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

The Governor described the establishment of UNIMED as a visionary step that placed Ondo State prominently on the map of medical education and research in Africa, noting that the institution has continued to justify its founding vision through steady growth and academic excellence.

He reiterated that healthcare remains a top priority of his administration.
“We recognise that no health system can rise above the quality of its manpower.

This is why our government remains committed to supporting UNIMED in its mandate to train competent, ethical and compassionate medical professionals,” he added.

Aiyedatiwa recalled the promise made during the university’s 6th Convocation to construct a Senate Building, stating that the groundbreaking had been done and construction commenced.

He also disclosed that within the past year, the state government had provided a state-of-the-art borehole and pledged to construct a 50-kilometre internal road network at the institution’s main site, while ensuring prompt release of subventions.

“This institution remains our pride. Let me reaffirm that Ondo State will continue to invest in education, research and innovation, particularly in the health sector, as part of our broader agenda for human capital development,” he stated.

The Governor commended the management and staff for their dedication and also appreciated the Chancellor, Oba Dr Victor Adesimbo Kiladejo, Jilo III, for his steadfast support for the university.

He urged graduands to see their certificates as a call to service.

“Society will place immense trust in you. Uphold the ethics of your profession, remain lifelong learners and let compassion guide your practice,” he charged.

In her address, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Aderonke Adejuyigbe, revealed that 771 students graduated at the ceremony, comprising 598 undergraduates and 173 postgraduates.

Of the undergraduates, 33 earned First Class honours while 267 obtained Second Class Upper Division, accounting for over 78 per cent of classified degrees.

At the postgraduate level, the university produced 76 Master’s degree holders, 32 Master of Public Health graduates, 52 Postgraduate Diploma holders and 13 PhD graduands.

Prof. Adejuyigbe described the ceremony as historic and credited former Governor Olusegun Mimiko with founding the institution in anticipation of future healthcare manpower shortages.

She disclosed that the university admitted 1,232 undergraduates and 374 postgraduates in the current session, while all programmes have secured full accreditation.

Highlighting achievements, she noted that six staff members secured National Research Fund concept approvals, a nursing student won the Florence Nightingale Essay Competition, and a lecturer ranked among the top two per cent of scientists globally in 2024 and 2025.

The Vice-Chancellor urged graduands to uphold discipline, professionalism and a commitment to lifelong learning.

Delivering the convocation lecture titled “Adapting to the AI-Driven Future of Medicine: Educating, Equipping and Leading Nigeria’s Health Workforce for Emerging Clinical Realities,” Dr Oluwatoyin Ogundipe described Artificial Intelligence as powerful but imperfect tools whose outputs depend on data quality and design assumptions.

“As fascinating as AI is, it has risks, particularly in medicine. We must approach it with ambition and humility,” he said.

He warned that medical professionals must be able to detect biased or flawed AI outputs, stressing that technology should enhance not replace the human element of care.

“The AI-driven future is already here. However, technology remains a tool, not a substitute for compassion and professional judgment,” he concluded.

Dignitaries at the event included the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, represented by his Deputy; members of the State Executive Council; traditional rulers; religious leaders; and other top government officials.