Fashola Decries Medical Students' Failure

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Nigeria, has decried the failure of a large number of medical students of the Lagos State University College of Medicine, and their  inability to graduate this year.

Speaking at the induction ceremony for the 6th graduating set of doctors, Fashola described the low number of medical graduates as academic accident in the institution, disclosing that out of the 159 medical students admitted by the institution, only 25 graduated.

The governor attributed the low number of graduates to serious adherence of the college to high standard of academic performance, adding that only students who scored high grades during their 200 levels were allowed to proceed for medical programme.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Education, Dr. Elijah Adewale, Fashola stated that the government had since increased the enrolment of medical students from 60 to 75.

Earlier, the overall best graduating student, Dr. Balogun Adeniyi, disclosed that the college registered 159 students for medical programme but that only 25 of them completed the course successfully while 134 others failed to fly.

He urged his mates who could not graduate this year not to be discouraged but put more effort in order to excel in the following year.

Provost of the college, Professor Bamidele Osinusi, stated that the 25 new doctors had increased the number of graduates produced by the college to 261 since inception.

He said medical education was rapidly evolving and that LASUCOM would not compromise its standard.

“Increased patient awareness makes it compelling for health care delivery team to be on cutting edge of research and seeking information,” he said, adding that all these had made it imperative to constantly seek ways of reviewing the curriculum of medical education.

“We are aware of this and do so regularly in this medical school to ensure that our products meet the demands and challenges of medical practice in the twenty first century,” he stated.

Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, LASU, Prof. Lateef Hussain, implored the students to always bear in mind the vow they took to appreciate the problems of patients, adding that, “always pursue the truth because it is only the truth that can liberate you for good performance and the good things of life.”