The School of Midwifery in Akure has been praised for scoring 100 per cent in the last final, qualifying examination, organised by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Dayo Adeyanju, gave the commendation during the matriculation ceremony of 2015/2016 basic student midwives, held at the School of Midwifery, Igbatoro Road, Akure.

According to him, midwives are important stakeholders in the health sector as they provide mid-level, skilled manpower.

Dr Adeyanju, who reiterated the determination of Ondo State government to reduce maternal mortality to zero, charged the students to be disciplined and obedient at all times.

“The state would continue to maintain the high academic standard; so, the newly admitted students should be serious with their studies,” he said.

He disclosed that the state government, through the Primary Health Development Board, had recruited 100 midwives, recently and promised that plan is under way to train nurses and midwives at Bachelor of Nursing degree level in the newly established University of Medical Sciences in Ondo town.

“Government is determined to transform the school into a world-class training facility, just as all requests would be addressed accordingly,” he said.

In his welcome address, the Director of Nursing Services, Dr Mopelola Jemilugba, represented by her deputy, Mr Abel Oloniyo, charged the students to be law abiding and imbibe the ethics of the profession.

He called on their parents and guardians to encourage them morally and financially in order to achieve their set goals and objectives.

Also in her address, the principal of the school, Mrs Alice Ogundele, congratulated the matriculating students for scaling through the hurdles of admission among numerous applicants.

She expressed appreciation to the government of Ondo State for the various ongoing developments in the school.

Speaking after taking the matriculation oath, some of the students, Akinibosun Itunu and Ifeoluwa Akinmola, promised to put in their best through hard work in order to come out in flying colours.