…Mary Onah Emerges Best Graduating Student

By Amaechi Agbo

The Registrars, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Dr Donald Offili  on Thursday charged newly inducted 93 graduates of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), to be compassionate and professional in the discharge of their duties.

Congratulating the newly inducted professionals during the sixth induction/oath-taking ceremony, Dr. Ofili, urged the university management to continue to strengthen practical training, acquire modern laboratory equipment and invest in staff development to sustain ESUT’s reputation as a leading institution for science education in Nigeria.

Addressing the inductees, Dr. Ofili reminded them that they were transitioning from students to professionals entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding human lives.

He noted that every laboratory specimen represents a patient whose diagnosis and treatment depend on accurate test results, stressing that medical laboratory science is not merely a profession but a profound ethical responsibility.

“Any sample represents life. Inaccurate laboratory results could lead to wrong diagnoses and inappropriate treatment, making professionalism, integrity and precision indispensable in practice. The keynote speak took you through the rigours of being a Medical La Scientists but I charge you to be compassionate and professional in the discharge of your duties.

“A patients in your ward is somebody’s parent, mother, father, brother, sister, relative who are anxiously waiting for his or her return. Every patient in your ward, puts his trust in you, do not disappoint them,” he said.

In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, congratulated the graduates and urged them to uphold the university’s values as worthy ambassadors wherever they practice.

He warned that the university reserves the right to withdraw the certificate of any graduate found guilty of unprofessional conduct or actions that violate the regulations of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.

Professor Okolie reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to raising the standard of medical laboratory education in the institution, revealing that the university is working towards establishing a Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences.

He also announced that the university had provided a Sienna bus to the department to improve operational efficiency and facilitate the movement of key members of staff.

In a keynote lecture titled “From Knowledge to Service: Upholding Excellence in Medical Laboratory Science,” Dr. I. P. Udoh of the University of Nigeria, represented by Eyiuche Ezigbo, charged the inductees to use their knowledge in the service of humanity.

The Prof Udoh stressed that laboratory results must always be accurate, timely and confidential, noting that clinicians rely heavily on laboratory data to make informed treatment decisions.

The graduates were encouraged to embrace continuous learning, particularly in the era of automation and artificial intelligence, while avoiding unethical practices such as result manipulation and procedural shortcuts.

Chairman of the ceremony and member representing Nkanu East Constituency in the Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Okey Mbah, congratulated the inductees and commended the ESUT management for its developmental strides, describing the university as a leader in innovation and academic excellence in the South-East.

Hon. Mbah also presented a cash award of N200, 000 to the overall best graduating student, Mary Cynthia Onah.

The Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Dr. Miriam Aniagolu, formally presented the 93 graduates for induction and received commendation from the inductees for her dedication and invaluable contributions to their academic and professional development.

In her speech, the Best Graduating Student, Onah Cynthia expressed appreciation to the university management, the Dean of Faculty of Allied Health Sciences and the staff of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science for their sacrifices and commitment in molding them.

She promised, on behalf of her colleagues, to be good ambassadors of the university and uphold the ethics of the profession.