…VC says AI can never replace human compassion in healthcare
By Our Reporter
Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, has reinforced its growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s leading institutions for nursing education, with its students recording outstanding performances in professional examinations that surpassed national averages, even as the university declared that artificial intelligence can never replace the compassion and empathy that define quality healthcare.
This was the highlight of the Annual Lecture Series of the West African Postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery (WAPCNM), Ondo/Ekiti Chapter, hosted in collaboration with Elizade University, where experts called for the training of a new generation of nurses equipped with emotional resilience, technological competence and professional excellence.
The lecture, themed “The Holistic Student Nurse: Building Resilience Today, Embracing the Technology of Tomorrow,” attracted nursing professionals, academics, healthcare practitioners and students from across the South-West to deliberate on the future of nursing practice in an era increasingly shaped by digital innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, the Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Philip Oguntunde, said while technology was transforming healthcare delivery globally, the human qualities of compassion, empathy and critical thinking would remain irreplaceable.
According to him, the modern nurse must be equipped not only with clinical competence but also with emotional intelligence capable of addressing the physical, psychological and emotional needs of patients.
“The holistic nurse is one who recognizes that healthcare is about treating the mind, body and spirit. Nursing demands enormous emotional investment, and for anyone to succeed in such a profession, resilience is indispensable,” he said.
Professor Oguntunde explained that resilience should not be viewed as the absence of hardship but as the ability to adapt, recover and continue providing compassionate care despite challenging circumstances.
He noted that the rigorous nature of nursing education, including intensive classroom learning, practical sessions and emotionally demanding clinical experiences, prepares students for the realities of the profession.
The Vice-Chancellor, however, stressed that resilience alone would not guarantee success in modern healthcare, where technological innovation is redefining service delivery.
“Resilience without the right tools is like sending a soldier to the battlefield without armour. We are now living in an era defined by artificial intelligence, telehealth, wearable health technologies and high-fidelity clinical simulations. Technology is no longer an optional luxury in nursing; it has become the very fabric of modern healthcare delivery,” he stated.
Professor Oguntunde dismissed fears that artificial intelligence would replace nurses, insisting that technological advancement would instead enhance efficiency while allowing healthcare professionals to devote more attention to the human aspects of patient care.
“Artificial intelligence can process data, but it cannot offer genuine compassion. Technology can automate tasks, but it cannot replace critical thinking, empathy and intuitive care. These remain the enduring strengths of the nursing profession,” he said.
He reaffirmed Elizade University’s commitment to producing healthcare professionals who are technically competent, emotionally resilient and socially responsible.
Also speaking, the Guest Lecturer, Professor Adelani Tijani, described nursing as “a lifelong commitment to humanity from birth to death,” noting that today’s nursing students must prepare for a profession increasingly driven by artificial intelligence, telemedicine, genomic medicine, digital health platforms and globally interconnected healthcare systems.
According to him, adaptability and lifelong learning have become indispensable qualities for healthcare professionals.
“The student nurse of today must be prepared not only to work within these emerging systems but also to shape them,” he said.
Professor Tijani explained that a truly holistic nurse is defined not only by academic excellence but also by emotional resilience, ethical conduct, physical well-being, technological competence, social responsibility and compassionate service.
He challenged nursing students to become innovators, researchers and change-makers capable of advancing healthcare through research and technological innovation.
“The future belongs to nurses who are research-driven, technologically agile and committed to advancing healthcare through innovation,” he added.
Earlier, the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Dr. Alice Ogundele, described the lecture theme as a reflection of Elizade University’s philosophy of producing globally competitive healthcare professionals.
She said the university’s nursing curriculum had been carefully designed to equip students with professional competence, technological skills and emotional resilience.
“The theme of this lecture is not merely a slogan; it is the blueprint for our nursing programme and the vision we have for every student who passes through our classrooms and clinical laboratories,” she said.
Highlighting the institution’s academic achievements, Dr. Ogundele disclosed that Elizade University’s pioneer nursing graduates recorded a 100 per cent pass rate in both Nursing and Midwifery professional examinations.
She further revealed that in the Community/Public Health Nursing professional examination conducted in May 2025, while the national average stood at only nine per cent, Elizade University achieved an impressive 53 per cent pass rate.
Similarly, in the May 2026 examination, when the national average improved to 80 per cent, the university again outperformed the benchmark by recording an outstanding 85 per cent success rate.
She described the results as evidence of the institution’s growing status as a centre of excellence in nursing education.
Speaking on the Fellowship programme of the West African Postgraduate College of Nursing and Midwifery, Mrs. Adebimpe Fatile, a Fellow and representative of the College, described the Fellowship as the highest level of professional and academic attainment available to nurses and midwives in the sub-region.
According to her, the programme equips practitioners with advanced clinical expertise, leadership capacity, research competence and policy development skills required to strengthen healthcare systems across West Africa.
Mrs. Fatile encouraged young nurses and nursing students to aspire to the Fellowship cadre, describing it as a pathway to professional distinction and impactful contributions to healthcare delivery, education, research and policy formulation.
She also commended Elizade University for partnering with the College to host the annual lecture, noting that such collaborations are vital for nurturing resilient, technologically proficient and compassionate healthcare professionals.
