(By Yusuff Moshood)
To ensure qualitative pharmaceutical research and development in the nation’s tertiary institutions, the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (AIPN), has launched a two-million-naira research grant, to assist faculties of pharmacy, nationwide.
The AIPN’s national chairman, Dr. Lolu Ojo, while speaking with Pharmanews at the formal launch of the grant at the Pharmacy House, Lagos, recently, lamented that the banes of the nation’s tertiary institutions, over the years, have been poor funding, infrastructural decay and the likes.
While commending pharmacy lecturers for their tenacity of purpose and forbearance, Ojo said that the hope of AIPN was that the humble contribution of the two million naira research grant would trigger resurgence of research activities in the faculties of pharmacy throughout the country.
The AIPN boss also thanked Prof. Fola Tayo for accepting to be the coordinator of the grant project.
Also speaking at the occasion, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), commended the AIPN leadership for initiating the project. He noted that giving a research grant to faculties of pharmacy in Nigeria is a laudable project, adding that the PSN would also look into how to reinforce the idea.
The chairman of the PSN Board of Fellows, Pharm. Ade Popoola, in his remarks at the occasion, also commended the AIPN leadership for the various innovations it had introduced since inauguration, and lauded Dr. Lolu Ojo for taking the association to the next level.
While praising AIPN for the research grant initiative, he prayed that the successor of Dr. Lolu Ojo, as national chairman, would sustain all the wonderful projects of the Lolu Ojo-led executives.
Presenting the guidelines for proposals from the faculties of pharmacies to get the research grant, Prof. Fola Tayo, the grant coordinator, also commended the Lolu Ojo-led executives of AIPN for the grant idea, adding that the initiative would greatly help to ensure that research work done by the lecturers in the faculties of pharmacy in the country had industrial and commercial impacts.
While calling on faculty members to come forward and apply for the grant, the coordinator urged applicants to strictly follow stated guidelines, adding that failure to follow the guidelines would result in automatic disqualification.
He also added that the selection process is strictly on merit, noting that attempts to lobby or influence the process would not only result in disqualification but also a ban on future application from the indicted applicant.
Amongst the dignitaries present at the occasion were: Prof. Olukemi A. Odukoya, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos; Prof. C.P. Babalola, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan and Prof. (Mrs) G.O Onawunmi, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
