The 1984 set of medical graduates of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, has donated a multi-million Naira medical equipment, anatomage, to the alma mater to further enhance teaching and learning of students in the university.
The donation of the teaching aid called anatomage; virtual anatomy dissection, was done at the Anatomy department of the College of Health Sciences of the university on Monday to mark 40th anniversary of graduation of the set.
Speaking during the presentation and handing over the teaching aid to the management of the College, the class captain of the set, Dr. Ebun Bamgboye of the St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos, said that the donation presented an opportunity to give back to the College that made them what they are today.
“We’ve been giving back to the school before now. We’ve donated ventilator to the school and facilitated medical personalities for university’s lectures among other projects. We think it is now time to give back to the College. We contributed finances among ourselves and bought the equipment for the up and coming medical students in order to keep up the glory of the school. It has been delivered and installed,” he said.
The class captain, who described the anatomage table as third in the country, implored the school management to protect and maintain the equipment for durability and sustainability for years to come.
He also commended the past and present management of the institution for keeping up the flag flying despite challenges facing education sector in the country.
Also speaking when the set paid him a courtesy visit in his office, the vice-chancellor of the university, Professor Wahab Egbewole (SAN), said he was exceedingly delighted to witness the event.
He appreciated the graduates who have continued to remember their alma mater, “40 years after receiving training”, describing the gesture as having good heart.
While he pledged to maintain the equipment, he said that the management would also add value to it.
“The government cannot do it alone. So, we appeal to alumni and well meaning Nigerians to come to the aid of the school. Government has been trying and will continue to try. Other people should also complement the efforts because we’ll be having more students in health and allied health disciplines. We also know about “Japa” syndrome. The FG has requested that the quota should go up. So, donations of this anatomage and other equipment are ways to be able to prepare for increase in quota that we’re working towards, based on FG’s directive”.
The VC also called on them to be part of the 50th anniversary of the university coming up next year, urging them to make their identity felt with laudable projects to mark the event.
Members of the set include notable politicians, medical specialists, and consultants, academics, such as the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Technology, and Innovation), Professor Adegboyega Fawole, among others.
Speaking during the handover of the equipment, the provost, College of Health Sciences, Professor Biodun Alabi, said that the donation was timely, adding that it would help the College in its NUC accreditation programme.
“The donation is of great benefit. The anatomage is precisely 3D machine that will complement dissection of human body. We use corpse which we call cadaver. So, with the anatomage, the students in Anatomy, Physiology, Medicine, Surgery, and Nursing will be able to conceptualize the images they’re likely to encounter during live dissection.
“So, it’s a kind of complementary modality of learning and research which will enable them to assimilate well what they’re about to encounter during the hands on the corpse, the cadaver, as the case may be,” he said.
