By Abayomi Ayomide Ogunleye
In Ralph Waldo Emerson’s words, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” These words could be the silent motto at the heart of every student striving to attain a height of excellence in the University of Lagos. But for the PIONEXA’28 set at the Department of Anatomy, those words are not just poetry, they are their reality.
For UNILAG, an institution with years of history of excellence and greatness, it is rare to see a field of study that has not been conquered.
Prior to the creation of the department, there have been suggestions that it be unbundled from the then Department of Morphological Sciences. A Professor of Anatomy, Professor Ademola Ayodeji Oremosu in his inaugural lecture- the eleventh in the 2023/2024 academic session of UNILAG- suggested that the department of Anatomy be unbundled and made to stand on it’s own just like in other universities.
Eventually, the department of Anatomy was created as a department under the new faculty of Basic Medical Sciences. This change took effect from 1st August, 2025.
In every other department, the baton is usually passed down from one level to the succeeding level. Slides, notes and study materials are shared, advice is given, and survival tips are whispered every now and then. But here, the pioneer set of the Anatomy department is laying the foundation for a whole new academic legacy.
It is true that to be the first set of students to study a course is no small feat as it comes with a great deal of burdens and work done in uncertainty. For the pioneer set of the department of Anatomy, there is no baton to run with. They have to navigate the idiosyncrasy of every lecturer, treat the curriculum purely on intuition and a trial and error method. Even with seniors from other departments volunteering to orient them, become their mentors and help navigate the nooks and crannies of College of Medicine, nothing beats the original; according to them, ”…it is never the same as having seniors directly from our department.”
The case of unavailability of past questions is perhaps the biggest of all their burdens. While others learn and study patterns of questions set from years back, they walk into every exam hall without any knowledge of the lecturers’ style until the paper is placed right in front of them.
However, every cloud, they say, has its silver lining and according to them, their very own silver lining is “Solidarity”. Without seniors to look up to, “we have learned to look sideways…we learned to become a self-sufficient tribe that navigates the uncharted waters of our department together”, they say.
When asked how they want to be remembered as the first set in the department, Grace said, “Whenever the Department of Anatomy in the University of Lagos is spoken of, we will be credited for layering a solid and lasting foundation and structures for the upcoming generation to follow.”
“I want us to be remembered not just as pioneers, but as the set that came with uncertainty, doubt and confusion but saw and conquered with energy and hope.” – Victoria
“I want us to be remembered as the pioneers who laid a solid foundation.” – Ayomide (Course Representative)
Their first lecture experiences also came in different shades.
“Interesting, everything came in a new light and that’s what made it truly interesting.” – Victoria
“Frustrating.” – Ayomide
“It wasn’t as mesmerizing as I thought but it was my first in medical school which makes it very special.” – Grace
When asked how the change made them feel, someone said, “Well, it made me feel powerful because we’re setting a standard. For me, with or without seniors you have to keep the track or energy going.
“It is a mix of power and pressure. Now we are proud to know that we are pioneers and the next minute we are unsure of how the journey will look. So, yes. I feel powerful but at the same time, deeply humbled by that responsibility that comes with being first.” – Victoria
In their message to their succeeding set, Victoria said, “Some of you may have chosen Medicine or another course and ended up in Anatomy, but whether you chose Anatomy or Anatomy chose you, the truth remains: you belong here.”
“… the journey won’t be easy but at the end of it all it will be worth it.” – Esther
“You’re not alone, we walked the same path and made it through.” – Ayomide
Ultimately, being a student in the University of Lagos comes with its own pressures but being the first set in one’s department comes with far more burdens but as Ralph Waldo said, the PIOEXA’28 class is determined to go where there is no path and leave a trail.
Years from now, when Anatomy department becomes huge with their names etched on the stones of history, the succeeding students will have past questions to study, seniors to guide them and a clear map of where they are going, and until then they can say as a whole department that: “The trail is being built, and it shall bear our footprints.”
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