A lecturer in the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at Osun State University (UNIOSUN), Professor Olufemi Akanni, has urged newly inducted medical laboratory scientists to embrace artificial intelligence (AI), warning that professionals who fail to acquire the skills needed to use emerging technologies could struggle to remain competitive in a rapidly changing healthcare sector.
Akanni gave the warning while delivering a lecture titled Medical Laboratory Science Practice in the Era of Artificial Intelligence at the third induction ceremony for graduates of Medical Laboratory Science at Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State.
He urged the inductees to view AI as an opportunity to strengthen professional practice, improve diagnostic services and enhance healthcare outcomes rather than as a technological threat to their careers.
“I want to urge you to embrace AI for better healthcare outcomes. Artificial Intelligence will not replace Medical Laboratory Scientists, but those who use AI will replace those who do not,” the professor said.
His message highlights the growing importance of digital competence in medical laboratory science, a profession that plays a critical role in identifying diseases, monitoring patients’ conditions and providing the scientific evidence required for clinical decisions.
Medical laboratory scientists analyse samples, conduct diagnostic investigations and generate results that help doctors determine appropriate treatment. As AI-enabled systems become increasingly integrated into healthcare, professionals in the field may need to develop additional competencies to work effectively with automated laboratory equipment, digital diagnostic platforms and data-driven analytical tools.
Akanni’s warning therefore placed professional adaptability at the centre of his message to the new graduates, stressing that academic qualifications must be accompanied by a willingness to learn, retrain and respond to technological developments.
He also outlined four responsibilities for the newly inducted professionals: upholding the ethics of their profession, complying strictly with quality management systems and procedures, participating in continuous professional development through training and retraining, and contributing to the growth of medical laboratory science wherever they practise.
These responsibilities, he indicated, remain essential even as healthcare professionals adopt new technologies. While AI may support the analysis of medical information and improve efficiency, the reliability of laboratory services continues to depend on professional competence, established procedures, ethical conduct and accountability.
The professor’s message also reinforces the importance of ensuring that technological adoption does not weaken the standards governing medical laboratory practice. Graduates entering the profession must understand that digital tools can support their work but do not remove their responsibility to verify results, follow established protocols and protect patients.
At the ceremony, the Vice-Chancellor of Elizade University, Professor Philip Oguntade, urged the inductees to uphold professional ethics and serve as worthy ambassadors of the institution.
Oguntade, who was represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Social and Management Sciences, Professor Joseph Fabayo, congratulated the graduates on completing their academic and professional training.
“Your presence here today is a testimony to your hard work, perseverance, discipline and determination to succeed in a demanding and noble profession,” he said.
The vice-chancellor’s representative reminded the graduates that medical laboratory scientists play an important role in producing reliable scientific information that guides clinical decisions and improves patient outcomes.
He explained that accurate and timely laboratory results are central to successful diagnosis and treatment, even though the professionals responsible for producing them often work behind the scenes.
“As Medical Laboratory Scientists, you will play a critical role in providing reliable scientific information that guides clinical decisions and improves patient outcomes,” he said.
He added that their work would extend beyond hospitals and diagnostic laboratories to research institutions, public health agencies and communities across the country.
The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria, Dr Donald Ofili, who was represented at the ceremony by Stanley Nkemakolam, also emphasised responsible professional conduct, accountability and compliance with the standards governing medical laboratory practice.
He stressed the importance of public confidence in laboratory services, noting that the reliability and integrity of diagnostic results are fundamental to effective healthcare delivery.
The Acting Head of the Department of Medical Laboratory Science at Elizade University, Dr Folorunso Dada, meanwhile, announced a major achievement for the institution’s programme, reporting that its graduates recorded a 100 per cent success rate in both the first and final professional examinations of the Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria.
He also disclosed that eight graduates earned first-class honours, attributing the performance to the combined efforts of students, lecturers, clinical instructors, university management, parents and guardians.
According to Dada, the department achieved the 100 per cent success rate for the first time, marking an important milestone in its development of medical laboratory science education.
He urged the inductees to maintain professional discipline, embrace teamwork and avoid unhealthy rivalry within the healthcare sector. He also encouraged them to respect other healthcare professionals and recognise the importance of collaboration in delivering effective patient care.
The induction ceremony marked the transition of the graduates from university training into professional practice, bringing with it the responsibility to maintain the standards required of medical laboratory scientists.
Akanni’s emphasis on AI adds another dimension to that responsibility, particularly as universities and professional bodies consider how best to prepare graduates for a healthcare environment increasingly shaped by automation, digital records and advanced analytical tools.
For Nigerian universities, the challenge is to ensure that graduates leave their institutions with both the foundational knowledge required for their professions and the digital skills needed to adapt to changing workplace demands. This may require sustained professional training, appropriate technological infrastructure and curricula that respond to developments in medical practice.
However, adopting AI should not be reduced to acquiring familiarity with new software. Medical laboratory scientists must also understand the limitations of technology, maintain patient confidentiality, recognise potential errors and ensure that automated systems operate within established quality and ethical frameworks.
Akanni’s central message was that technological change makes continuous learning increasingly important. For the newly inducted graduates, professional success will depend not only on the qualifications they have earned but also on their willingness to develop new competencies and apply them responsibly.
As AI continues to influence healthcare, medical laboratory scientists who combine professional expertise with technological understanding will be better prepared to contribute to accurate diagnosis, reliable laboratory services and improved patient care.
