No fewer than 167 medical graduates of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, Edo State, have protested against their non-induction into the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN, six months after graduation.
The students, who staged a peaceful protest on Thursday, lamented that they spent over 10 years in medical school.
They, however, stated that since their graduation on August 15, 2024, they have yet to be inducted into the MDCN.
The spokesperson for the students, Precious Omohegbele, said she and her colleagues spent 10 years in medical school and graduated on August 15, 2024, but have not been inducted.
Omohegbele appealed to Edo State governor, Monday Okpebholo, to step in and help resolve the crisis so that the 2015 medical set of the university can be inducted.
She emphasised that induction is necessary for them to proceed with their housemanship.
According to her: “We are the 2015 set of medical students of AAU, and we are now medical graduates. We graduated on August 15, 2024, and have spent five months at home without induction. By now, we ought to be halfway into our house training.
“There might be problems hindering our induction, but we cannot keep waiting as we have already spent 10 years in medical school (2015-2025).”
Appealing directly to Governor Okpebholo to save them from the situation, she said: “It would be unfair for 167 of us to remain at home after 10 years of training. We are not getting any younger with each passing day.”
Meanwhile, Governor Okpebholo briefly stopped on his way from Irrua to address the protesting medical students at the institution’s gate in Ekpoma. He assured them that his administration would look into the circumstances surrounding the delay in inducting the 2015 set of medical students, months after graduation.
“I have heard you, and I also feel your pain about the situation you are in right now. I am aware of this issue of accreditation and other related matters.
“I will invite the acting Vice Chancellor of the institution to discuss and look into the matter and see how to resolve it as quickly as possible. Just be patient. Everything will be fine,” he said.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
