The federal government has charged 464 newly inducted foreign-trained medical laboratory science graduates to uphold professionalism, integrity, and precision while resisting malpractice and quackery in the country’s healthcare system.

Minister of state for health and social welfare, Iziaq Salako, gave the charge on Thursday in Abuja at the 12th Induction and Oath-Taking Ceremony of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN).

Mr Salako said the ceremony demonstrated a collective commitment to strengthening institutions, empowering professionals, and advancing a people-centred health system anchored on quality, trust and accountability.

He said that medical laboratory scientists played a critical role in diagnosis, treatment decisions and public health management.

The minister commended the council for maintaining regulatory standards, promoting continuous professional development and combating quackery.

He added that the ministry relied on laboratory professionals to deliver accurate and timely results that supported early disease detection and effective public health responses.

According to him, laboratory competence boosts investor confidence, supports local production and reduces dependence on imported medical products.

He described the MLSCN as a strategic partner in achieving national health goals, protecting Nigerians from diagnostic errors and upholding global best practices.

Mr Salako also lauded the council for reconstructing and commissioning the Golden Arena, describing it as an example of innovation, foresight and responsible stewardship.

He said the facility demonstrated a commitment to self-reliance and cost efficiency.

He noted that the council’s adaptation programme ensured that foreign-trained graduates aligned their international training with Nigeria’s health needs, disease patterns and laboratory standards.

He reminded the inductees that the trust patients and clinicians placed in them was a sacred responsibility.

“The new inductees are entering a noble and demanding profession that influences life-saving decisions. Excellence must be their benchmark, and they must prioritise ethical conduct in all aspects of their work,” he said.

Acting registrar of MLSCN, Donald Ofili, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to excellence, saying the induction reflected the critical role laboratory scientists played in healthcare delivery.

He expressed confidence that the graduates’ international training, combined with the 12-month adaptation programme, had prepared them to make meaningful contributions to the health sector.

Mr Ofili said the reconstructed Golden Arena symbolised the council’s dedication to creating a conducive environment for professional growth.

He added that the adaptation programme equipped graduates with practical competencies required for safe and accurate laboratory practice.

He described the graduates as custodians of diagnostic truth who guided clinical judgment, informed public health strategy and influenced treatment outcomes.

He warned that the council would continue enforcing discipline, eradicating quackery and ensuring globally competitive laboratory services.

Mr Ofili reminded the inductees that the oath they had taken bound them to ethical practice, respect for human dignity, and professional accountability, aligning with the President’s Five-Point Agenda for healthcare improvement.

One of the graduates, Hassan Bilkisu, pledged on behalf of his colleagues to uphold accuracy in laboratory results.

He urged Nigerians to patronise accredited laboratories for reliable services.

Another inductee, Okoro Chidimma, promised to ensure that laboratory services remained reliable, competitive and focused on delivering accurate outcomes.

(NAN)