The Ogun State government has offered employment to 52 newly inducted nurses from Chrisland University, Abeokuta, urging them to shun migration and contribute to improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
The State Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this on Thursday during the induction of the newly qualified nurses into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.
Coker, represented by the Deputy Provost of the Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences, Abeokuta, Dr Omowunmi Awonuga, said the state government was ready to employ the nurses in its health sector.
She said the government recognised the critical role of nurses in delivering quality healthcare and remained committed to providing an enabling environment, improving welfare and working conditions, and supporting their professional development.
“Our doors are open for nurses to apply. We need more nurses in Ogun State, as the Vice Chancellor has rightly encouraged all of you to stay back with us in Ogun State and Nigeria, as you are also being recognised internationally.
“You can apply and, by the grace of God, we will employ you,” Coker said.
The commissioner urged the newly inducted nurses to embrace the opportunities available in the country rather than seek employment abroad, popularly known as Japa.
She noted that the nurses were entering the workforce at a time when demand for their services was high and public expectations of healthcare professionals continued to grow.
According to her, the profession requires more than technical competence, as nurses must also demonstrate sound judgment, ethical integrity, emotional resilience and unwavering commitment to patient care.
Coker added that the state government would continue to work with regulatory bodies, training institutions and professional associations to strengthen nursing education, improve service delivery and enhance patient safety.
Earlier speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Prof Oyedunni Sola Arulogun urged newly inducted nurses to speak up against unsafe medical practices, exercise professional courage and prioritise patients’ safety in the discharge of their duties.
Arulogun warned that nurses must not blindly follow medical instructions when they suspect that a patient’s life is at risk, stressing that professional competence must be matched with compassion, integrity and the courage to challenge potentially harmful decisions.
She further stressed that nurses play a critical role in healthcare delivery because they are often the first to detect changes in patients’ conditions and the professionals closest to them during emergencies.
“A good nurse does not merely carry out instructions; a good nurse thinks critically, acts responsibly and advocates courageously for those entrusted to their care,” she said.
The VC also charged the inductees to pursue continuous professional development, embrace evidence-based practice and treat every patient with dignity, irrespective of social status or economic circumstances.
She begged the newly inducted nurses to stay in the country and be globally relevant, emphasising that the country needs them to revolutionise the healthcare sector.
Arulogun further urged them to embrace emerging opportunities in research, education,
entrepreneurship, public health and healthcare leadership, while using technology responsibly to improve service delivery.
Speaking on artificial intelligence, she maintained that it cannot replace the human compassion required in nursing, but may assist clinical decisions.