Medical Laboratory Technicians Inducted in Lagos, Charged to Uphold Diagnostic Accuracy and Ethics
The Lagos State College of Health Technology, School of Medical Laboratory Technicians, Yaba, has inducted newly trained medical laboratory technicians into the medical laboratory profession, with a charge to uphold ethical standards, accuracy and professionalism in the discharge of their duties.
The charge was given at the institution’s 12th Orientation and Oath-Taking Ceremony for the 2025 and 2026 graduating classes, held in Lagos with the theme, “Laboratory Quality and Diagnostic Accuracy: Keys to Sustainable Care.”
The Provost of the college, Prof. Raheem Akewushola, said the inductees had been equipped with the requisite theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to contribute meaningfully to healthcare delivery.
Prof. Raheem Akewusola
Akewushola urged the new professionals to make professionalism, integrity, accuracy and ethical conduct the foundation of their careers, stressing that laboratory diagnosis remains a critical component of effective healthcare.
“Precise diagnosis is very critical to healthcare delivery. The graduands have been trained to understand that credibility, validity, accuracy and precision in their practice have significant implications for healthcare delivery.”
He expressed confidence that the newly inducted technicians would become good ambassadors of the institution and the medical laboratory profession.
The Dean of Medical Laboratory Technicians at the college, Mrs Vivien Emecham Adekoya, also emphasised the importance of quality and accurate laboratory results in clinical decision-making.
Mrs Vivien Adekoya
According to her, medical laboratory results play a major role in determining the treatment given to patients, making competence, modern equipment and continuous professional development indispensable.
“If we make mistakes in diagnosis, there will automatically be mistakes in the treatment of the patient, hence the need for continuous training of the laboratory professionals and provision of modern equipment to aid their operations.”
Adekoya described the inductees as agents of change and the ambassadors of the institution, urging them to embrace continuous learning, emerging technologies and modern laboratory techniques.
She also called on government and relevant stakeholders to invest in modern laboratory equipment, quality reagents and regular training to strengthen diagnostic services across the country.
Prof. T.Y. Raheem
The Keynote Speaker, Prof. Toyosi Raheem, urged the new inductees to regard their induction not as the end of their education but as the beginning of greater professional and personal achievements.
He encouraged them to remain committed to learning and excellence as they begin their careers in the healthcare sector.
Raheem, a Professor of Public Health Microbiology and Molecular Biology at City Lead University, Ibadan, noted that medical laboratory technicians occupy an important position in healthcare delivery.
He listed their contributions to disease diagnosis, disease surveillance, public health, blood banking, research and quality assurance, stressing that effective healthcare requires collaboration among doctors, pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists, technicians, nurses and other professionals.
He said the patient must remain at the centre of healthcare delivery, with all professionals working together to achieve the best possible outcome.
The Registrar of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), Dr Donald Ofili, said the council had intensified its monitoring and regulatory activities across the country to tackle quackery and ensure that Nigerians received quality laboratory services.
Mr Simon Bukar
Ofili, who was represented at the ceremony by the Head of the South-West Office, Mr Simon Bukar, charged the newly inducted technicians to maintain high ethical standards and pursue continuous professional development.
He said the council would continue to strengthen regulatory oversight of medical laboratory practice.
“We will ensure that there is no hiding place for quacks in our midst, so that Nigerians get the required value and quality of whatever services they paid for.”
The ceremony therefore served not only as a celebration of the successful completion of training of the inductees, but also as a reminder of the critical responsibility that comes with working in the medical laboratory profession.
As they take their first steps into professional practice, the new medical laboratory technicians have been reminded that every laboratory result carries consequences for patient care—and accuracy, integrity and competence must remain non-negotiable.
Presence at the occasion were the college Registrar, Mr Ekundayo Olusegun, Deputy Provost Administration, Dr Uthman- Izobo Oyeronke, Chairman of the Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists of Nigeria (AMLSN), Comrade Gbolahan Kabiawu, Vice chairman of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) Lagos State Branch, Mr Ikechukwu Unamba, GMLD Secretary, Mr Oluleye Emmanuel