Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State went agog Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as Rhema University, Nigeria, graduated first set of medical doctors from its College of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Rhema University, Nigeria, is an accredited private, Christian University, based in the city of Aba in Abia State, Nigeria. Founded by the Living Word Ministries International and licensed by the National Universities Commission in 2009.
The University received full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to run a programme in Medicine and Surgery.
An approval letter dated March 17, 2026 and addressed to the University’s Vice Chancellor, the MDCN stated in part “that by this approval, the College can now conduct the 5th (final) Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) professional examination that will allow the medical students to graduate.” That examination took place in March 2026 and produced 16 new medical doctors with 6 out of the 16 graduating with distinction.
Emmanuel Okorie, chancellor, Rhema University Nigeria, in a speech at the induction and oath-taking ceremony of pioneer graduates of Medicine and Surgery, held at the University’s auditorium, said that the vision to set up the College of Medicine was to ‘give birth to medical doctors, who are trained in the head and transformed in the heart’.
He said: “This is the kind of doctors we desire to produce. The world is already filled with doctors, who possess tremendous head knowledge-doctors, who are academically brilliant, scientifically equipped and medically competent, but without transformed hearts. We believe that medical education must go beyond acquisition of knowledge.
“As Christian doctors, there must be a connection between your heads and your hearts. Your head knowledge gives you medical acumen, your heart transformation gives and equips you with compassion. Your heart will help you treat your patients with dignity, patience, kindness and godly compassion. This is because medical practice is not only about treating and curing diseases, it is also about touching lives.”
Okorie, who is also the Head Pastor of Living Ward Ministries, charged the new medical doctors to go forth as doctors, who make Godly difference.
Fatima Kyari, a professor and registrar, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), while administering the Hyppocratic Oath on the new doctors, comprising 11 females and five males, urged them to imbibe the sacred spirit of professionalism, while discharging their duties.
Represented by Ali Tijjani Mandaka, Deputy Registrar, MDCN, Kyari urged the new medical doctors to always prioritise the health of their patients.
She reminded the new medical doctors that their call to duty demanded, among other things, that they should handle their patients with empathy, no matter the class or social status, and serve humanity with compassion.
“You must use your heart. Compassion and empathy are indispensable qualities in medical practice. Whenever a patient comes to you, regardless of their status in society, they are often at their most vulnerable. Treat them with kindness, empathy, and respect,” she stated.
The MDCN Registrar admonished the inductees to work in synergy with other professionals in the health sector and equally respect them as their jobs are complimentary.
“You do not only have to work in synergy with other professionals in the health sector because your jobs are complimentary, but you should also have to respect them because you may not know the importance of the nurse or cleaner in your place of work until they go on strike”.
While saying that she would not stand in the way of any of the inductees, who wants to leave the country (Japa) the MDCN Registrar, however, informed them although some Nigerian medical doctors are doing well abroad, all that glitters is not gold.
“It is always good for one to think well before traveling abroad, because it’s not all that leaves the country for greener pastures that succeeds.”
Ogbonnaya Onwudike, Vice Chancellor, Rhema University Nigeria, affirmed that a vision conceived under God with unwavering faith and purpose and with the aim of serving humanity and glorifying God will always become a reality and bear fruits that honour God.
“Today, we celebrate the fruit of that vision and enomous investment. Sixteen may be a number, but today it represents something much greater. It represents vision, sacrifices, discipline, perseverance, excellence, faith a d divine favour. It represents the countless hours spent in lecture, laboratories, clinics, wards and examination halls. It represents the prayers of parents and families. It represents the sacrifices of our faculty and staff. It represents the commitment of the University management and indeed the Living Ward Ministries”.
To the graduands, Onwudike, a Professor, appealed to them to hold on to the motto of the University, which is “Equipping humanity for excellence”.
“We did not train you merely to pass examinations. We trained you to serve humanity with excellence. We did not produce doctors, who only know the science of medicine. We produced doctors, who should understand the humanity of medicine. Never forget that behind every diagnosis is a human being. Behind every case file is someone’s father, mother, child, husband, wife, brother and sister. Let your expertise be accompanied by humility.
He continued, “let your confidence be accompanied by wisdom. Let your success be accompanied by integrity and let your professional ambition never make you lose sight of the sacred value of human life.”
The Rhema University. Nigeria Vice Chancellor, expressed gratitude to the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, whose guidance, accreditations and commitment to maintaining standards contributed to the remarkable achievement and expressed the commitment of the University to sustain the highest standards of medical education in line with national and international best practices.
This is as he appreciated the dedicated faculty members, consultants, clinical instructors and administrative staff, whose expertise, mentorship, practice and sacrifices have shaped the young professionals.
Madu Awa, Provost, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rhema University, Nigeria, while advising the graduands to serve humanity with humility, also urged them to learn continuously, because medicine never stops evolving.
“Lead with integrity wherever you find yourself. Heal not only the body, but also the mind and spirit of those entrusted to your care”.
He urged the graduands to remember Rhema University, the institution that gave them their professional foundation and be worthy ambassadors of the institution.
“Let your conduct speak for your alma mater, let your professional excellence strengthen the reputation of this young medical school and when many years from now you look back upon this day, may you be able to say “I did not merely become a doctor, I became a doctor, who made a difference”.
Anointing Ugwokaegbe, the best graduating student in her valedictory speech commended the founders of Rhema University for upholding a “Christ-centered environment that helped keep her grounded in her faith, while still imparting quality education.
In her words, “I am deeply honoured to have been taught by the amazing lecturers seated here today. I must confess that I was a bit taken aback to have been tutored by some of the same doctors, who were my healthcare providers at certain points in my life, but it only served to build my confidence in them. When I count my blessings, I truly count all my lecturers twice, because they taught. They did not just lecture, they were passionate about imparting the wealth of knowledge they possess and I am a proud beneficiary.”
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