In a ceremony marked by emotion, reflection, and a deep sense of achievement, McPherson University officially inducted the Phoenix Class of 2025 into the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. The 2nd Nursing Induction Ceremony held at the university campus featured a standout moment, a heartfelt and inspiring valedictory address by Nurse Irene Oluwaseyi Salau, the best graduating student from the Faculty of Nursing.
With poise and passion, Salau captured the struggles, triumphs, and transformation that defined their nursing journey. “We didn’t just learn about Florence Nightingale—we became her,” she declared to thunderous applause. “We carried lamps of compassion, cared when it was inconvenient, and endured where others might have quit.” Her speech showed the perseverance required of every Nigerian nursing student and celebrated the resilience of the Phoenix Class.
Speaking before an audience of university officials, parents, faculty members, and guests, Salau reflected on years filled with intense clinical training, academic rigour, emotional strain, and unwavering faith. She acknowledged that the path to this moment had been far from easy, describing it as a journey “that stretched us—physically, emotionally, and mentally.”
She extended sincere gratitude to the leadership of the institution, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Francis Adegbaye Igbasan, for creating an environment that fosters academic excellence and moral discipline. She also recognized the contributions of the Provost of the College of Allied Health Sciences, Prof. Unu Lucy Airahui; Head of the Department of Nursing Science, Mr. C.C. Irodi; and her level adviser, Mrs. A.O. Adefolaju, for their roles in guiding and shaping the inductees.
Salau did not leave out the silent supporters, clinical instructors, librarians, support staff, and even patients who allowed the students to learn through their care. “To every patient who let us learn while caring for them, you were our best teachers,” she said, acknowledging the vital role of hands-on experience in their development.
An emotional part of her speech was devoted to her family, where she thanked her parents, Reverend Adesegun and Reverend Mrs. Susan Salau, for their sacrifices, prayers, and moral upbringing. She also praised her brothers, Emmanuel and Ezekiel, as her biggest cheerleaders. “You fed me with the proper diet, physically, spiritually, and morally. I’m grateful for your labour over your daughter,” she said.
Encouraging her fellow inductees to embrace their new title with pride and purpose, Salau challenged them to go beyond the call of duty. “We are not just nurses; we are nation builders. Whether in rural clinics or international hospitals, let our care reflect excellence, compassion, and integrity,” she urged. Her message was a call to action, one that urged her peers to be leaders, advocates, and changemakers in a challenging healthcare system.
The event concluded with joyful celebrations, proud reflections, and hopeful anticipation for the future. As the symbolic lamp of Nightingale is passed on to this new generation of nurses, the Phoenix Class of 2025 leaves McPherson University not only with certificates in hand, but with a bold commitment to heal, serve, and uplift lives wherever their calling takes them.
