It was another historical moment at the epic event of the matriculation ceremony in Chrisland University as the Secretary General and Registrar of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Dr Umar Faruk Abubakar (RN, PhD, FWACN) commissioned the Effigy of the School of Nursing. The Nursing School of the University was duly accredited by NUC last year for the nursing programme.

Dr Umar Faruk Abubakar, in his commissioning speech praised the efforts of the management team of the University led by the award winning professor of Pharmacy, Prof Chinedum Peace Babalola for the structure and equipment in place to kick start the nursing programme. “I congratulate the Vice Chancellor and every member and staff of this school for the job well done.

“Private Universities are now being most developed University education in our country. When I stepped into the school premises, I was dazed seeing the statue of Florence Nightingale so perfectly made as a symbol of this noble profession. To my knowledge so far, this is one of the best marble works of Florence Nightingale for a nursing department.”

He further admonished the students on what is expected of them in this noble profession. “In this noble profession, my expectations are dedication to the noble course of nursing; to discharge services in the best way possible, not only in Nigeria, but anywhere in the world. You are expected to dedicate yourself to the course because we pride Nigerian nurses as one of the best in the world.”

While bringing the commissioning of the project to an end, the Secretary and Registrar accorded Florence Nightingale whose statue was erected the following characteristics; a woman of resilience, a mother of nurses, a woman of care, a woman of love and virtuous woman who everyone that profess to be a nurse is expected to imitate.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. (Mrs) Chinedum Peace Babalola, FAS, eulogized nurses as everyday people in our lives. She said: “Nurses are seen to be everybody’s life including the pharmacists, without a nurse, there will be no health care.” She expressed her delightedness that the ambience of the occasion connotes epitome of care and love. In furtherance to the Vice-Chancellor’s speech, she charged the undergraduate nursing students of the University to imbibe absolutely act of care, patience, and love as these depict a good nurse.

Professor Babalola buttressed her happiness by extending her profound gratitude to the secretary-General and Registrar Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria Dr Umar Abubakar by saying; ‘’ Our Registrar is a Digital Registrar, the project being commissioned is made a surprise”.

Mr Kayode Ajomo, JP. An artist while addressing the students extolled the history of the statue just erected in the University Department of Nursing called “Florence the Nightingale.” He stated that Florence emanated from Italy in the year 1820 and was a statistician. He furthered in his discussion that, Florence was so passionate with lamp and with this attribute, she was moniker and proclaimed (Lady of Lamp).

He further added that Florence was the first person to establish training of nursing as a profession that plays a vital role in life of human. Mr Ajomo acknowledged the efforts of the school Vice-Chancellor Prof. (Mrs) Babalola, Dr (Mrs) Folake, the H.O.D nursing department, and of course everybody for their great efforts towards achieving the project.