By Our Correspondent

Newly inducted graduate nurses of the Department of Nursing Science, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), have been charged to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and integrity as they begin their careers in the nursing profession.

The charge was given by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Dr. Ndagi Alhassan, during the third induction ceremony for 78 graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing Science programme held at ESUT, Enugu, on Thursday, July 23, 2026.

The Registrar who was represented at the ceremony by a Director of Nursing Services, Dr. Joy Oko, urged the inductees to remain worthy ambassadors of the nursing profession, their university and Nigeria by adhering strictly to professional ethics and maintaining a patient-centred approach to healthcare delivery.

He reminded the graduates that the oath of allegiance administered during the induction officially admitted them into the nursing profession as Registered Nurses (RNs), empowering them to practise anywhere in the world after completing their internship programme.

According to him, nurses are entrusted with the responsibility of protecting human life and must therefore strive for excellence, lifelong learning, evidence-based practice and continuous professional development to remain relevant in the ever-evolving healthcare sector.

The Registrar also encouraged the newly inducted nurses to embrace research, keep pace with technological advancements in healthcare and prioritize their physical, mental and emotional well-being to enable them deliver quality healthcare services.

He cautioned them against the misuse of social media, urging them to maintain professional boundaries online and use digital platforms responsibly to protect the image and reputation of the nursing profession.

Dr. Alhassan further called on the graduates to actively participate in research through the Council’s African Research Journal and to join the global “Nursing Now Nigeria” campaign aimed at promoting the status of nurses. He noted that following their induction, they would receive temporary licences, induction certificates, logbooks and checklists to commence their internship.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chike Nwoha, congratulated the graduates for their academic achievement and urged them to remain worthy ambassadors of the university.

He said the university had invested significantly in their academic and professional development through quality teaching and research, warning them to avoid actions capable of tarnishing the institution’s reputation.

Professor Okolie highlighted the university’s commitment to strengthening medical and allied health education, noting that programmes such as Optometry, Physiotherapy, Medical Radiography, Nutrition and Dietetics, and Public Health had received full approval from the National Universities Commission and had commenced academic activities.

Quoting nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, he encouraged the graduates to embrace lifelong learning while upholding the values of excellence, compassion and integrity throughout their careers.

The Vice-Chancellor also expressed appreciation to the lecturers, parents and guardians for their support, while commending the Enugu State Government and Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah for providing teaching support and critical equipment to the Department of Nursing Sciences and other programmes in the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion, Professor Christian Ngwu, while congratulating the inductees,  urged them to be tolerant   with patients at the course of their career practice.

Prof Ngwu, who is the Chairman of Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission, ENSIEC, equally urged the inductees to be compassionate with their duties in order to excel in the Nursing profession.

In her Keynote presentation, titled ‘Carrying the Torch, Shaping the Future Care, Dr. Chidinma Israel, stated that Nurses are the highest contributors in the global health space, and urged the inductees to develop critical thinking abilities.

She stated that Nurses excel when they embody the characteristics of dedication, sacrifice and excellent service delivery.

The best-graduating student, Udebuchi Jacinta, thanked the University Management, their lecturers, parents and well-wishers for their support and quality teaching.