ACPN, IDEA Zone gets New Executives

pharmacy

… Osinoiki, Adekola, charge them on good use of office

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), IDEA Zone has elected new crop of leaders to paddle the canoe of the association for the next three years. The election which was conducted during the Zonal Annual General Meeting, held at the Hob & Hog Event Centre, Shasha, Lagos, on Wednesday 10 February 2021, had notable pharmacists like National Chairman, ACPN, Dr Samuel Adekola; Former National Chairman, ACPN, Pharm. Deji Osinoiki; and  Immediate Past Zonal Coordinator, Pharm. Kola Sunmonu in attendance.

Addressing the new executives, Adekola, who conducted the oath of office on them urged them to hit the ground running, adding that the election has come and gone, and now is the time to settle down to work.

The number one community pharmacist in the country noted that ACPN, IDEA Zone holds a pivotal position to the practice of community pharmacy in Lagos state, and the country in general, adding that the commitment of the members of the zone at state and national events has made the zone a force to reckon with in the pharmaceutical political space.

Speaking in the same vein, Osinoiki, said the opportunity to work has presented itself to the new executives, stressing that it is a time to hit the ground running and to ensure that they move the Zone forward, while keeping to the vision and aspirations of the founding fathers.

He added: “Leadership position is a test of one’s ability, so I want you to keep the pace, don’t let the guard down, and ensure that IDEA zone remains the best in term of good pharmaceutical practice, as well as participation in the activities of our umbrella body, both at the state and national level”, he said.

In an interview with Pharmanews, the new Zonal Coordinator, Pharm. Isaac Olufunminiyi, who is a Merit Award winner of the PSN, Lagos State said the new executives would deliver their duties with vigour and carry every member along in running the affairs of the association, adding that they will keep the good name of the zone with higher ground to be conquered.

Speaking further, Olufunminiyi promised to bring his experiences to bare in discharging his duties, having held various positions in the past, such as former assistant secretary, PSN Lagos; inspector of Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN); as well as deputy zonal coordinator of the zone, saying it is a call to serve.

“As the new zonal coordinator, I am aware it’s a huge responsibility on me and I am prepared for it. So, we will appoint a lot of young pharmacists into different committees, and we will mentor them as they are the future of the profession. We will encourage more group businesses to create trans-generational policies. We will make coming to meetings very interesting ones, and we will create a good atmosphere of love and more empathy among the members”, he assured.

While delivering a report on his stewardship to the AGM, Pharm. Sunmonu, the immediate past zonal coordinator beaming with smiles said he is full of gratitude for the love and support he enjoyed as the zonal coordinator for the past three years, saying it is obvious that a lot of waters have passed under the proverbial bridge of the zone, but the zone remains better than it was.

Speaking on their successes, he said the outgoing administration has built on the laudable foundation of the previous leadership of the zone, saying in spite of the many challenges posed by the lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the zone was able to generate a list of illegal medicine sales outlets spanning across Mangoro, Cement, Onilekere, Isheri, Idimu, Dopemu, Oniwaya, Alfa-Nla, Iyana-Ipaja, Orile-Agege, Egbeda, Akowonjo, Shasha, Gowon Estate, Shagari Estate, Baruwa, Command, Ipaja and Ayobo areas of the zone.

He continued: “For a zone like ours that can boast of having some past national and state chairmen of ACPN, past national president of the PSN and several officers, both past and present across the pharmaceutical space, robust participation in all affairs relating to Pharmacy is highly important. This executive committee has exemplified this in every way; from the state ACPN Zonal Dynamics which we have won back-to-back in the last three years.

“The past year has witnessed record breaking supports and welfare packages to our members to the tune of five hundred and five thousand naira. This is excluding more than a quarter of a million donated on the floor of our monthly meetings as support for a member after a fire accident, and the over two million naira Insurance and welfare packages facilitated by the zonal executive committee from the state and national leadership of both the ACPN and the PSN”, he explained.

The highpoint of the event was the presentation of the new zonal executives, which are: Pharm. Isaac Olufunminiyi; Pharm. (Mrs) Emenike C. C, vice zonal coordinator; Pharm. (Mrs) Rebecca Akawa, secretary; Pharm. Kola Adeoluwa, assistant secretary; Pharm. (Mrs) Nkiruka Ibekwe, treasurer; Pharm. Nwankwo Chizoba, financial secretary; Pharm. (Mrs) Foluke Bamgbose, internal auditor, and Pharm. Sunmonu, as the immediate past zonal coordinator, to the leadership of the association.