The Presidential Inaugural Speech – Bayowa Omotola
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT
NIGERIAN UNIVERSITIES NURSING STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION (NUNSA), OBAFEMI AWOLOWO UNIVERSITY, ILE-IFE
The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire,
The Provost, Professor Bernice Adegbehingbe,
The Dean, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Prof. Adeyemi, our exceptional mother and an inspiration we put our academic pursuits on,
The Head of Department, Nursing Science, Prof. Adesola Ogunfowakan,
Distinguished lecturers present and absent,
Esteemed nursing department staff, academic and non-academic,
Kind and generous alumni body,
Most importantly, the ever gallant NUNSITES who have given me the opportunity to serve and represent them.
I greet you all.
I stand before you today, not as a solitary figure, but as a vessel of our collective dreams, a steward of our shared aspirations, one that binds us as nursing students, as NUNSITES of Great Ife.
Today, we gather under the radiant sun of Ile-Ife, sit in this beautiful class, walk in the hallways of these beautiful buildings, interact with Nurses, lecturers of bright minds; actions once envisioned by nurses, scholars, academia who were once nursing students like you, NUNSITES like you, scared and uncertain of what’s next like you, seated in a classroom somewhere on this Obafemi Awolowo University campus, just like you. A testament that dreams are valid and they do come true.
Today, we mark not just the beginning of a new administration but the dawn of a renewed commitment to the ideals that define us as Nigerian Nursing Students, Nurses, as scholars, and as architects and visionaries of a healthier Nigeria.
A VISION
Let me begin by saying: I have a vision. A vision that echoes the timeless dreams of those who came before us, a vision where NUNSA OAU leads and others follow, a vision where NUNSITES in OAU embrace knowledge that defeats ignorance, and unity that binds us stronger than any form of apathy.
I have a vision that NUNSA OAU continues to stand as a beacon of excellence, an association where every nursing student’s voice is heard, where every idea is nurtured, and where every challenge is met with the fierce resolve to overcome. A VISION WHERE NO ONE IS LEFT BEHIND.
I envision a NUNSA that champions academic excellence, where we push for better resources, more robust training, and mentorship that lights the path for every student.
I see a NUNSA that fosters innovation, where we collaborate on research and projects that address the pressing health challenges of our time: malaria, maternal mortality, mental health, and more.
I see a NUNSA where capacity building is welcomed with open arms, where we assist students who cannot assist themselves financially, academically, socially, mentally.
I see a NUNSA that builds bridges, connecting us with our peers across Nigeria, Africa and beyond, so that together, we can shape a future where no one is left behind.
GETTING THE JOB DONE
In the mode of leaving no one behind, we must come together as one family, as one unit, with one force, with one voice. At this critical point we must reconcile with those we have wronged and those who wronged us. We must choose to call and look beyond our differences, for the betterment of ourselves and of NUNSA. We must not let our personal ego hinder us from providing the NUNSA that we all deserve.
Fellow NUNSITES, look around; these are your future colleagues. You are the next Dr., Professor, DDNS, CMD, Minister of Health, President. You will likely work with some people here in the nearest future. Be kind to each other.
Through my study here as a Nursing student, I haven’t always thought about being the Public Relations Officer, Speaker or President. I wanted to be a trouble maker, to be involved in asking questions. I wanted to be the lead on checks and balance, to be on the side of policy making and development, to help friends and classmates when in need.
But I was inspired. I was inspired by the need for improvement, inspired by the responsibilities ahead, the impact that could be made if I contributed my quota, discussed my ideas and was at the forefront of its execution.
My family, this is not a moment for complacency, but a moment for courage. As nursing students, we are not merely studying to earn a degree; we are training to save lives. We are learning to hold the hands of the sick, to comfort the weary, and to advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves. Most importantly, we are learning to be holistically involved in all aspects of shaping our country Nigeria, so please be involved.
This is my sacred charge, and it begins here, in the classrooms and wards of OAUTHC, in our dear association NUNSA OAU, where we forge the skills and the spirit to transform healthcare in our nation. FAMILY, PLEASE BE INVOLVED.
But this vision cannot come to life without you. Yes, you—the student who stays up late studying Physics 101, anatomy, pharmacology, medsurg, Maternal and Child Health; the one who balances clinical postings with leadership and business; the one who dreams of making a difference; the one who contested but the scales of elections tilted against you. You all are the heartbeat of this association. You all are very important. You are the ones who will turn this dream into reality.
And so, I call on you today to rise with me, to work with me, to dream with me. Let us commit to lifting each other up, to challenging the status quo, and to holding ourselves accountable to the highest standards of integrity and compassion.
In the spirit of unity, let us also acknowledge the giants on whose shoulders we stand: Our most revered Alumnus, the nurses who toiled before us, the Department of Nursing Science who guide us, and our families who support us. To them, we owe a debt of gratitude. To our predecessors in NUNSA, we salute your legacy, and we pledge to build upon it with boldness and humility.
As I take on this mantle of leadership, I am reminded of the words of a great leader who once said, “The audacity of hope is not just believing in a better future but working to make it so.”
So let us be audacious. Let us be relentless. Let us be the generation of nursing students who redefine what it means to care, to lead, and to SERVE WITH KNOWLEDGE AND SKILL.
Today, as we stand at this crossroads, let us choose the path of progress. Let us choose the path of unity. Let us choose the path of hope.
Together, we will make NUNSA OAU a force for good, a light in the darkness, and a testament to the power of young Nursing Students who dare to dream and do.
Thank you, Great Ife.
Thank you, NUNSA.
Let us march forward together, toward a brighter, healthier tomorrow.
May God bless you all.
God bless NUNSA OAU.
And, God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
