- VC, PAPCPN charge graduands on job creators
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
About 68 students of Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Nnewi campus, Anambra State, have graduated and participated in the 2023 valedictory session for Physiology students.
The ceremony was held at the school auditorium, Okofia Nnewi where the graduates were charged to be creators of jobs and not job seekers.
The Vice Chancellor of UNIZIK, Prof Charles O Esimone while addressing the graduating students charged them to be good ambassadors of the University that trained them for four years.
The VC who was represented by the Provost, College of Health Sciences, Prof Gerald Udigwe, reminded them that the world has changed to the extent that one has to acquire skills to be self-reliant and employers of labour.
“The world is changing, no job, go out there and think of how you create jobs. Nobody should sit down and wait for the white cola job. According to your HOD, Dr. Uchechukwu Dimkpa, when he was making a speech, said that when you come out you should have something to offer to society as those who acquired skills in their profession.
“People like you should not be waiting for jobs, you should go out there and create jobs for yourselves and others,” he enjoined them.
The President, Professional Association of Practicing Clinical Physiologists in Nigeria, (PAPCPN), Okeke Ugochukwu Ifeanyi, expressed satisfaction with the graduating students adding that they would now come out to the world to practice what they were taught.
He stressed the need for them to go for an intensive clinical programme prior to going on full professional practice on their own to be able to know and acquaint themselves with every aspect of the job.
He said he has no doubt in his mind that physiologists are employers of labour that are wanted all over the place even as he vowed that the association would render support to the graduating students.
“We will make sure that we support all those students who passed out from this department, especially in the clinical aspect. We will make sure they get their bearing, especially in the clinical aspect.
“After their clinical intensive training, they will be given a satisfactory letter because for now, they are associate members of the association. Though they have been trained theoretically and practically by the University there is a need for them to undergo the intensive programme to acquire more practical clinical knowledge and protection,” he further explained
The President recalled that the association was inaugurated on June 28, 2021, and since then he has remained the President of the association.
On how to fight quacks in the profession he reiterated that the association was not afraid of quacks stating that it was not an issue since they have the names of all public and private hospitals in the country and their locations adding that the association has its task force that would write the hospital where one is discovered for necessary action and failure the police would be contacted.
Also speaking, the Head of Department, HOD, Department of Human Physiology, and member of PAPCPN, Dr. Ugochukwu Dimkpa, stressed the need for the graduating physiologists to be productive when they go out to the society adding that the University and Department have played their own part in training them.
” People will start looking for them and they can be employers of labour. They can establish their own gymnastic ventures/clinics. We have one of the best crops of students today and they will be protected clinically and otherwise by PAPCPN and the association has also assured them of adequate support,” he disclosed.
He, however, advised them to further their educational pursuit if they must be best in their field of specialization pointing out that they should not see finance as a hindrance to that effect.