Forty-three newly inducted medical laboratory science graduates of Fountain University, Osogbo, have been warned that completing their compulsory one-year internship and obtaining a full practising licence are necessary steps before they can enrol for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
The Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN) issued the warning at the university’s third oath-taking ceremony in Osogbo, Osun State, on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The council’s registrar, Dr Donald Ofili, who was represented by Dr Akinwale Akinlabi, told the inductees that bypassing the prescribed professional requirements could amount to quackery. He also cautioned them against conduct that could undermine public confidence in laboratory diagnosis.
“Your next step is the internship programme, which you must complete successfully and obtain a full practising licence before enrolling for the National Youth Service Corps,” Ofili said.
The directive draws attention to a crucial distinction for fresh graduates: completing a university degree and taking a professional oath do not, by themselves, confer full practising status. Graduates must also satisfy the regulatory requirements governing their profession.
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Why the requirement matters
Medical laboratory scientists examine blood, urine, tissue and other specimens to help clinicians identify diseases, monitor patients and determine appropriate treatment. Errors in laboratory testing can lead to incorrect diagnoses, delayed care and unsuitable medication.
Ofili said about 70 per cent of the information required for clinical decisions came from medical laboratories, underscoring the responsibility carried by professionals in the field.
He added that the council would monitor inductees’ conduct to protect professional standards and public health.
The registrar also highlighted continuous professional development as a condition for renewing practising licences. The requirement is intended to help practitioners keep pace with advances in diagnostic technology, laboratory methods and quality control.
For the new graduates, the message is that professional qualification involves more than passing examinations. Practical training, regulatory compliance and continued learning are also essential to safe laboratory practice.
Fountain University highlights training gains
The Vice-Chancellor of Fountain University, Professor Ramota Karim, disclosed that the institution had recorded a 100 per cent success rate in professional examinations since 2024.
She also announced the completion of a dedicated Medical Laboratory Science Complex featuring four laboratory units, each with a capacity of 100 students.
The facility is intended to strengthen practical instruction and prepare students for the demands of professional practice.
Delivering an induction lecture titled Beyond the Test: The Evolution of Medical Laboratory Science in Modern Healthcare, Professor Oluyemi Akinloye of the University of Lagos, represented by Professor Oloruntoba Ekun, called on the inductees to uphold integrity and work closely with other healthcare professionals in patients’ interests.
The induction marks a new stage in the graduates’ careers, but their immediate responsibility is to complete the required internship and obtain the appropriate licence before proceeding to NYSC.
For prospective medical laboratory scientists, the council’s message is clear: professional registration and supervised practical training are essential safeguards, not formalities to be skipped on the way to national service.
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