EKSU College of Medicine Advocates Mentorship Integration as Clinical Training Begins
Newly admitted clinical students (400 Level Medicine and Surgery) of the Ekiti State University (EKSU) College of Medicine have been urged to embrace mentorship as a critical foundation for academic excellence, professional growth, and personal development as they commence their clinical training.
This charge was delivered during the College of Medicine’s Orientation Week lecture titled “Gaining Academic and Professional Skills through Mentorship”, presented on 16 January 2026 by Professor Olofinbiyi Babatunde Ajayi, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Adolescent Reproductive Health/Public Health Physician, and Chairman of the Senate Committee on University Ranking, EKSU.
Mentorship as a Necessity in Clinical Training
Addressing the realities of clinical medical training in Nigeria — including high patient loads, limited resources, burnout, and intense medicolegal pressure — Professor Olofinbiyi described mentorship as “not a luxury, but a necessity.” He emphasized that success in medicine extends beyond academic brilliance to include guidance, humility, respect for hierarchy, and a clear understanding of institutional culture.
According to him, mentorship in the Nigerian medical context goes far beyond textbooks. It covers critical areas such as patient communication, ethical medical practice, teamwork, professional conduct, and navigating complex healthcare systems.
The Mentor Ecosystem Approach
Professor Olofinbiyi highlighted the need for a broad and inclusive “mentor ecosystem”, explaining that no single mentor can meet all developmental needs of a medical student. He identified several categories of mentors, including:
- Academic mentors
- Professional and career mentors
- Peer mentors
- Human relations and leadership mentors
- Medical deportment and ethics mentors
- Vocational and administrative mentors
He commended the Orientation Planning Committee for deliberately introducing mentorship into the clinical orientation programme, describing it as a significant intervention that addresses a long-standing gap in the traditional medical curriculum.
Call for Institutional Adoption
Professor Olofinbiyi stressed that the urgent integration of structured mentorship into the clinical arm of Nigerian medical education is no longer optional but a critical curricular and pedagogical reform. He noted that mentorship must be intentionally embedded within the training system to produce competent, ethical, resilient, and globally relevant doctors.
He further added that this innovation deserves institutional adoption, proper documentation, and increased visibility within and beyond the university system.
Student Reactions
The lecture was warmly received by the newly admitted clinical students. One of the students, Ademiluyi Olanrewaju Adesola, described the session as transformative, saying:
“The orientation lecture on mentorship has been the most interesting lecture in my medical education journey; very eye-opening and brilliant. May God bless you, sir.”
Beyond the Consulting Room
In a thought-provoking charge that broadened the students’ perspective on medical careers, Professor Olofinbiyi encouraged them to look beyond the traditional consulting room. He noted that many doctors find deeper impact and fulfilment in areas such as public health, health policy, research, innovation, ICT-driven medicine, artificial intelligence, and healthcare advocacy.
The session set an inspiring tone for the students’ transition into clinical medicine, positioning mentorship as a cornerstone of professional success and lifelong growth.
Office of Research and Development (ORD), EKSU
Senate Committee on University Ranking, EKSU
For more EKSU academic updates, clinical training news, and student guidance,
contact EKSUbot on WhatsApp:
https://wa.me/message/Q6L42QLM53UKP1
Source: Office of Research and Development (ORD), EKSU
Published by: EKSUbot