The Chief Medical Director of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Prof. John Okeniyi, has encouraged secondary school students to consider pursuing careers in the healthcare system for a brighter future.
Prof. Okeniyi, represented by Dr. Akinjide Ogundokun, Physician-in-Charge, made this call during a Career Talk held at the Clinical Skills Centre, OAU-OAUTHC, on Wednesday, as part of the hospital's 50th-anniversary celebrations.
Okeniyi explained that the "Career Talk" aimed to help students make informed decisions about their future in the healthcare sector.
He highlighted that healthcare is a collaborative field, with doctors, nurses, pharmacists, radiographers, and physiotherapists all working together to provide quality care.
The CMD added that "a tree cannot make a forest," emphasising the importance of teamwork in delivering excellent healthcare.
Prof. Okeniyi also charged students to focus on their studies from the secondary school level and avoid distractions that could hinder their success.
Prof. Macellina Ijadunola, Chairperson of the OAUTHC 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, expressed appreciation for the students, teachers, and professionals who contributed to the event.
Ijadunola noted that the theme of the anniversary, "Honouring the Past, Engaging the Present, and Shaping the Future," reflects the hospital's commitment to inspiring the next generation of healthcare professionals.
She acknowledged that many students struggle to choose the right career path and often second-guess their choices in university, adding that OAUTHC reached out to local secondary schools to provide early guidance and inspire students to pursue healthcare careers.
"Not only doctors and nurses are needed in hospitals. There are many other professionals who contribute to the common goal of providing quality healthcare," she said.
Dietitian Akinnifesi Adetutu also encouraged them to consider a career in dietetics. "Make food your medicine, don't make drugs your medicine," emphasising the importance of diet in promoting longevity and health.
Adetutu highlighted that dietetics is not only a rewarding career but also offers opportunities for entrepreneurship, such as creating food products that serve as medicine.
One of the students, Omolara Omisakin from Ife City College, expressed gratitude on behalf of her peers, thanking OAUTHC management and the speakers for their efforts in shaping their future.
The event featured discussions on various healthcare professions, including medicine, nursing, environmental health, human nutrition, dietetics, dentistry, pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical rehabilitation, and medical laboratory science.
These professionals explained the requirements and benefits of their fields, providing valuable insights to the students.
Thirty schools participated in the event, including Adepeju Comprehensive College, Ife City College, Ife Anglican Grammar School, Oluorogbo High School, Ebenezer Baptist High School, School of Science, Oduduwa College, Seventh-Day Adventist School, and Henry Alex Duduyemi School.
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