The Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Benin City has achieved a momentous milestone with the formal inauguration of the School of Psychiatric Nursing (SOPN) Alumni Association. The event which held on Friday June 21, 2024 at the new school lecture hall in the hospital’s site at Uselu was graced by the core hospital management team, former students, and a global audience via a live Zoom broadcast. It is worthy of note that the inauguration of the SOPN Alumni Association marks a significant step forward for the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Benin City underscoring its dedication to academic excellence and the professional development of its graduates.
In his opening address, Mr Isaac Osadolor, a venerable SOPN alumnus, provided a succinct historical overview of the school. He traced its origin back to April 1979 with Mr Joseph Olayinwola Ojo as the first principal. He stated that the pioneering class graduated in 1982, laying the foundation for SOPN’s legacy. “The second set had 21 students – 14 males and 7 females”, he concluded.
Dr Imafidon O. Agbonile, the Chief Host and Medical Director/CEO of the hospital, expressed profound delight at the establishment of the Alumni Association during his tenure. He lauded Mr Saturday O. Okolo, the current principal of the school, and the dedicated committee members for their commitment to realizing the visionary initiative. The Medical Director remarked that the formation of the alumni association heralds a new era in the hospital’s chronicle, emphasizing the teeming and reputable personalities that had graduated from the school. According to Dr Agbonile, “this inauguration marks a new chapter in the history of the hospital. It gladdens my heart because of the caliber of persons that have passed through our school. This history is something we had earlier neglected, but now we have started to write that story”. He noted that the carrying capacity of the school has been increased from 30 to 75, stressing that this significant achievement happened within 3 years of his administration.
Furthermore, Dr Agbonile announced that the hospital management has secured approvals from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (N&MCN), to upgrade SOPN to a College of Nursing Sciences. He noted that the upgrade will enable the institution to offer programmes in General nursing and Public Health Nursing, with plans to introduce Postgraduate programmes in Public Health and Mental Health Nursing. He vowed to ensure the realization of these ambitious goals. The royal patron of the day, HRH Oba Kayode Ogungbonun (NR.) also an SOPN alumnus, highlighted the pivotal role of the Alumni Association to include fostering unity, best practices, knowledge-sharing and bolstering the school’s infrastructure and capacity-building endeavours. He urged fellow alumni to actively contribute, intellectually and financially, to the association’s growth. He then commended the Medical Director for his relentless commitment to the Alumni forum and implored him to continue to train more tutors, improve infrastructure, and establish a school of geriatric nursing.
Favour Osahon Usiobaifo
Information & Public Relations Unit