Oyo Empowers 198 Nursing Students as Makinde Pledges Deeper Health Reforms

​IBADAN – The Oyo State Government has reiterated its unwavering commitment to the twin pillars of health and education, as the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery (OYSCONME), Eleyele, officially matriculated 198 students for the 2025/2026 academic session.

​The ceremony, held on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the college’s main campus in Ibadan, serves as a significant milestone in Governor Seyi Makinde’s “Omituntun 2.0” agenda, which prioritizes human capital development and the modernization of healthcare infrastructure.

​A Vocation of Compassion

​Delivering the keynote address, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, described nursing as more than just a job.

​”Nursing is a vocation of compassion, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment to humanity,” she stated, in a speech delivered on her behalf by Dr. Waheed Lanre-Abass.

​The Commissioner highlighted that the current administration is deliberate in its strategy to position Oyo State as Nigeria’s healthcare leader. She emphasized that no health system—no matter how technologically advanced—can thrive without “well-trained, competent, and motivated healthcare professionals.”

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​Investing in Excellence

​Echoing these sentiments, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Surveyor Segun Olayiwola, represented by Mr. Raheem Olatubosun, lauded the college for maintaining its reputation for academic rigor.

​The Commissioner noted that OYSCONME has become a “pride of the state,” producing professionals who excel both locally and on the global stage. He urged the new intakes to remain focused, noting that while the journey is demanding, the rewards of saving lives are incomparable.

​No Room for Mediocrity

​Earlier, the Provost of the College, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi, formally welcomed the students into the “noble profession.” She revealed that the institution has recently launched four new faculties and is currently finalizing a partnership with Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) to offer degree programs.

​Dr. Owolabi issued a stern warning against academic and professional misconduct:

​”The nursing profession does not tolerate mediocrity. Society will place lives in your hands, and that trust must never be taken lightly. Guard your character as fiercely as your clinical skills.”

​The 198 matriculants will now undergo a robust four-year curriculum covering anatomy, pharmacology, and maternal and child health, alongside intensive clinical postings across the state’s specialized hospitals.