Cultural troupes came out in droves and rolled out drums in adulation of Mr. Governor and celebration of the success recorded by UNIOSUN Medical students for making the University, State and the entire country proud in far away Eastern Europe.

Among the returnees were Dr. Lateefah Abiola OYELEYE, who emerged as the best graduating Medical Student in the whole of Ukraine and Dr. Motunrayo OLUWASAYO, who bagged the remarkable best-behaved student prize in the Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine.
Twenty-eight (28) of the Medical Doctors out of those who returned from Ukraine left Lagos on Sunday to visit the Visitor to the University at the State Government House. They were all given a hero's welcome with a helluva reception organised by the Ogbeni Aregbesola-led Government of the State of Osun.

Dr. Yetunde Olamide SHENGE, Dr. Bosede Omolara ODEWALE, Dr. Khadijah Abiola GARUBA, Dr. Praise Ajitoronini OGUNBIYI, Dr. Abdulsamad ADELEKE, Dr. Aisha Titilope ADEKUNLE, Dr. Segun Adedamola IGBILADE, Dr. Anneta Gbolayide ADEBUSUYI and Dr. Waliyu Adekilekun TIJANI were among the twenty-eight hosted by the government.

Others are Dr. Olufemi Kolawole OGUNTOYE, Dr. Vivian Ifeoluwa OLU-BALOGUN, Dr. Gabriel Akinwumi AWOTUNDE, Dr. Adebimpe Adewale ADEDOYIN, Dr. Tomisin Ruth EMINOWA, Dr. Rukayat Abiola AKINYEMI, Dr. Mimian Olufunmilayo BOLARIN, Dr. Oladipupo Bakare ADEKANNBI, Dr. Mabel Ebunola ADETUNBI, Dr. Rebecca Temitope ADEGUNNA, Dr. Kafayat Adesewa OJO, Dr. Adeola Omolabake FANIYI, Dr. Temilola Titilayo AJAYI, Dr. Isaac Blessing OJO, Dr. Segun Idris ODEGBAYI, Dr. Peace Adetoke AYODELE and Dr. Omotola Olubunmi OYELAMI.

The elated medical graduands were warmly received by the Visitor to Osun State University, Governor Rauf Aregbesola who was joined by the Deputy Governor of Osun State, Otunba Grace Titi-Laoye Tomori, UNIOSUN Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Adelani Baderinwa, Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Bola Oyebamiji, Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Engr. Remi Omowaye and Special Adviser to Governor on Higher Education, Bursary and Scholarship, Professor Grace Akinola.

The Visitor, Governor Aregbesola recalled that the decision to send the UNIOSUN medical students to Ukraine was made in 2012. He said: "It was not easy taking this decision. No matter what anybody says today, it was a tough decision for us to take. The decision was taken early in 2012 and was actualized in 2013. Professor Akinkungbe was the one engaged by the University to oversee the evolution of the Medical School and the College of Medicine. He laboured so hard and he came to me on the matter. The first request was where to sight the teaching hospital. The University made a request for Asubiaro.

"The response of the Ministry of Health was that it would not be possible as Asubiaro was the only Secondary Medical Facility in the State capital and that there was no way they could give out the only secondary medical facility in the state. We tried other options which did not work. I asked the University to bring the budget for converting any of the state hospitals to Teaching Hospital and he brought an initial budget estimate of one billion naira. It was not a question of whether we had a choice; we did not simply have the money. Alternative must therefore be sought.

"We decided to look out for universities within Nigeria where these students could be absorbed. None could absorb them because they said they could not take more than the approved quota by the NUC and Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, MDCN. Then, we decided to look out for Universities outside Nigeria. The Governor asked the management of Osun State University, Provost, College of Health Sciences and two representatives from the ministry of education to go round universities outside Nigeria."

The team, according to the Governor, went out in search of the Universities abroad to absorb the UNIOSUN Medical students and out of the universities approached in Cuba, USA, United Kingdom and Eastern Europe, it was only Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine that was found most suitable and friendly in terms of school fees affordability, language of instruction and study policy.

He also recalled some difficulties that trailed the decision as his office received negative criticism from the opposition party. "We also faced a tough challenge in getting the Ukraine embassy to grant them visa," he added.

The Governor expressed his appreciation to God for making it possible for them to overcome all the challenges that came up during the processing and urged the graduands to cultivate the habit of showing compassion to their patients.

In his remarks at the reception, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Labode Popoola congratulated the Governor and the graduands for what he described as an unprecedented feat for the affected Doctors, the State and the country.

He said: "I have been in this business for a while and I know no other business. I have checked the record and know that no government has trained eighty (80) medical doctors except this state government.

"I congratulate the Governor and Visitor to Osun State University for this remarkable feat. Today, we are celebrating the audacity of hope and courage. But for the audacity of Mr. Governor, Nigeria would not have had the best graduating medical student in Ukraine and the best-behaved student in that University. We appreciate Mr. Governor for this. He has no doubt left a landmark that is unrivalled."

The returned medical doctors expressed appreciation to the governor, the University, their parents and the State of Osun for the support given them toward the success of their medical career. They all stood up, each dangling the State flag while singing a "thank you" song composed by one of them as a way of showing appreciation to the State of Osun and the entire University community.