Dr. Uwem Nseowo Anderson Udofia, the elder brother to Nigeria’s Youngest Newspaper Editor, Ifreke Nseowo emerged the best graduating medical doctor at the 6th Sponsio Academica (induction and oath-taking ceremony) of the University of Uyo held last Friday.
At the well attended event held at ETF Lecture Hall, Uniuyo permanent site, Dr. Nseowo who is also an assistant pastor at World Missionary Church stole the show by clinching seven other individual prizes including Best Graduating Doctor (BGD) in Paediatrics, Best Graduating Doctor in Biochemistry (with distinction), Best Graduating Doctor in Internal Medicine, Best Graduating Doctor in Surgery, Isabella Medical Scholarship Fund (IMSF) for Best Graduating Doctor in Surgery, Best Graduating Male Doctor and overall Best Graduating Doctor.
With Honorable Onofiok Luke
In his speech at the Sponsio Academica, the young doctor said “I have not come out here to express myself as the best amongst equals, neither is it to demonstrate my superiority over my mates. But I’m here as an embodiment of a talented and gifted family; as a representative of a body of respected and noble professionals that have just been called to service – a service to God and Humanity. I stand as a key voice Batch 4 graduate Doctors of University of Uyo medical College”.
The young doctor who prefers to be addressed as Dr. Anderson hinted that 70 Students were admitted in his set in 2007 and about 25 were dropped in year 1. About 10 were dropped in year 3; about 10 joined other classes below his during the course of study due to one problem or other. He said, altogether, 51 students took the final MBBS Exam with 25 from the 2007 set and 26 repeaters; 25 passed, stating that out of the 25 that passed 12 were 07 sets while repeaters were 13. 5 of the 07 sets that passed never had resit in their exams including the BGD.
He had words of encouragement for those not fortunate enough to graduate along with him. “To our colleagues who were dropped at one point or other, or those who joined other classes in the course of our study, we say, you are not a failure; you only fail when you give up in life. For you to have had the courage and made that single but noble decision to join the Medical school, with the hope of saving life, is not a mean feat, this already is an achievement. Our noble colleagues who took the final MBBS Exams but did not reach the touchline with us, you are already a victor; it is just a matter of time. But keep the feat because our God is faithful and just.
With Honorable Bassey Etienam and Hon. (Barr.) Onofiok Luke
At the reception held in honour of the distinguished young doctor, the former chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Rt. Hon Christopher Udofia announced his adoption of Dr. Uwem Nseowo Anderson as one of his sons.
Hon. Udofia who was the chairman of the reception acknowledged many years of tangency with the celebrant when he said that Dr. Anderson does not only come from Uyo LGA of which he administered twice but that the young man shared the same surname (Udofia) with him. He described the best graduating doctor as humble, intelligent and God-fearing, maintain that he is likely to soar high in the profession if he does not let his guards down. The Chairman advised the celebrant to adhere strictly to the ethics of the profession.
The excited father of the celebrant who could not hide his joy expressed gratitude to God for making his son’s dream of becoming a medical doctor come true.
Describing his son as a “book worm”, the overjoyed father thanked all those who came to share in the joy of the Nseowo family and prayed taht as God did it for his son, so shall it happen for all those asking God for anything.