The Executive Chairman of Enugu East Local Government Area, Engr. Pst. Beloved-Dan Obi Anike, delivered a powerful and inspiring speech at the Valedictory Ceremony for the 2023 Class MBBS Batch B of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences and Faculty of Dental College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus.
His message, titled “From Desire to Commitment: Answering the Call of Purposeful Practice,” emphasized the critical need for dedication and action in addressing the challenges facing Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Addressing the graduates, distinguished professors, and proud parents, Anike noted that the journey of becoming doctors begins with a desire, a driving force that propels students through sleepless nights and rigorous clinical training.
However, he noted that desire alone is not enough to create lasting impact. “Desire opens the door, but it does not take you through it,” he said.
Reflecting on the realities of medical practice, Anike described how clinical experiences transform a doctor’s desire into concern, a deeper emotional connection to human suffering. While this concern is essential, he cautioned that it remains passive unless elevated to commitment.
“Commitment takes action,” he declared. “It is rising to every challenge and pushing forward until victory is achieved.”
Anike explored this idea further through two Igbo concepts: Nkwenye (conviction) and Nkwechiri (enforcement). He explained that nkwenye is the agreement to uphold values and principles, such as a doctor’s oath to protect life and serve humanity.
However, he stressed that conviction without action remains empty. True commitment lies in nkwechiri—the insistence on compliance and enforcement of standards. “You can agree to do what is right, but until you insist on it, it remains a mere intention.”
In his call to action, Anike challenged the new doctors to embrace both nkwenye and nkwechiri to transform Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system.
“Our system faces issues of brain drain, lack of access, and inadequate understanding. You will be tempted to compromise, but I urge you to fight for change. It is not enough to agree that the system must change—you must insist on it, lead it, and demand excellence.”
He cited the example of Nnamdi Azikiwe, the great Zik of Africa, reminding the graduates of the importance of doing what is right, even when unpopular. “It is better to displease people by doing what is right than to temporarily please them by doing what is wrong,” he quoted.
Drawing on Roman Krznaric’s The Good Ancestor, Anike urged the doctors to think beyond the present and build legacies that would benefit future generations.
“Will you be remembered as a doctor who treated symptoms but left the system broken? Or will you build something that outlives you?” he asked.
As the graduates celebrated their achievements, Anike reminded them that this milestone was just the beginning.
He encouraged them to support one another in their professional journeys, referencing the Igbo adage: “Aka nri kwoo aka ekpe, aka ekpe akwoo aka nri” (When the right hand washes the left, the left washes the right).
Closing with a spiritual reflection, Anike quoted Matthew 25:40, reminding the doctors that their service to patients is ultimately a service to God. “Every diagnosis, every prescription, and every life saved is an act of service to Christ,” he said.
In his final charge, Anike urged the graduates to go beyond hospital walls and make their voices heard in boardrooms, policy discussions, and underserved communities. “Do not just be good doctors. Be good ancestors,” he declared. “Let future generations look back and say, ‘They were the ones who turned things around.’”
The chairman’s speech was met with resounding applause, leaving the graduates inspired to embrace their calling with conviction (nkwenye) and action (nkwechiri).
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