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Task Pharmacy Students on Excellence
In recognition of their contributions towards the development of Pharmacy education at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ogun State, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, publisher, Pharmanews, and five others, including Pharm. Moses Oluwalade, chief executive officer, Miraflash Pharma; Pharm. (Mrs) Adetutu Afolabi, chief executive officer, Wellness HMO; Pharm. Abimbola Adebakin, chief executive officer, Advantage Health Africa; Pharm. Adedipo Adetuyi, managing director, Oakleaf Pharma, and Pharm. Laide Soetan, of NHC Pharma, have bagged the OOU PANS Awards of Excellence.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of a week-long OOU PANS event, with the theme “Showcasing the unknown potentials of Pharmacy profession right from the undergraduate level”, held at the Main Auditorium, College of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Atueyi urged the undergraduates to endeavour to add value to the society, while upholding excellence, which Pharmacy profession is known for and has imbued in them.
Atueyi who was represented by the Editor, Pharmanews Limited, Mr Patrick Iwelunmor, stated that the theme for the event was apt and timely as it allowed him to share his life experience and testimonies at 83 years with the budding youths, adding that a successful career is not the one that provides one with a lot of money, material possession, prestige and power, but the one that is in alignment with God’s purpose for one’s life.
Quoting Blake Mycoskie, a successful entrepreneur, “I believe each of us has a mission in life, and that one cannot truly be living their most fulfilled life until they recognise this mission and dedicate their life to pursuing it”, he emphasised that the students must pray to know their calling and focus on it.
According to the octogenarian, his academic attainment in Pharmacy today was not his effort, but God’s plan for his life, adding that his desire to be among the first graduates of B.Pharm in Nigeria, and have the degree for the sake of having it made him enroll to study Pharmacy at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, not knowing that God has a different plan for him.
He continued, “After graduation, I spent the first 15 years of my working life doing things that did not give me joy, but in each employment, I tried to do my best, even though I did not know the direction I was going. So, when you graduate, you must pray to God for guidance, and ask God to reveal His plans for your life. Today, I am a pharmaceutical journalist, applying all the experiences acquired in my employment. You need God’s guidance because if you miss it, you may not end up well”, he advised
Atueyi, known for his special interest in PANS-related activities, admonished the students to use the opportunity to prepare themselves for life ahead, work hard, develop good character, seek the opportunity to be of value to others, learn to serve others, pray for God’s direction, trust and depend on God, carefully consider the choices and decisions they make, do what they love to do, and be the original version of themselves.
Delivering his address titled “Patience, hard work, courage and perseverance, a work tool to achieve greatness in one’s career, Miraflash boss, Oluwalade, called on Pharmacy students to embrace challenges and welcome difficulties, adding that there is no profession without its challenges, but the ability to withstand them makes one a champion.
According to him, the school certificate is the foundation, but what one can do outside the school certificate will determine how far such a person will go in life, adding that as future pharmacists, they should not go with the multitude, so that they won’t be swallowed among the crowd.
In their addresses, the duo of Pharm. Afolabi and Pharm. Soetan, who were products of the faculty over 20 years ago charged the students to carve a niche for themselves and be ready to stand out among the multitude, adding that what stands an individual out is the ability to be unique and to face obstacles.
According to Afolabi, who was a PANS president during her time, the school certificate was not the end, but a means to an end, saying the university degree is just a password to become great in life, but the individual approach to life will determine the result.
“I was initially discouraged about Pharmacy because of the testimonies from some of my senior colleagues, but fortunately for me, I was able to get proper mentoring from some specific people and that was what shaped my life”, she said.
Also speaking, Pharm. Adetuyi, who spoke on the topic,” Merit and demerit of marketing career”, tasked the students on innovation, saying it is the only way to break through considering the level of competition that exists in the pharmaceutical space.
The high point of the event was the launching of the Pharmatouch, a yearly magazine of the faculty, and the presentation of award plaques to the guest speakers.
Other personalities at the event include Pharm. Adekunle Adenuga, chairman, PSN Ogun State; Pharm. Olumide Obube, vice- chairman, PSN, Ogun State; Prof. L. S. Kasim, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, OOU; Dr Olatunde Olaitan, sub-dean; Dr Oluyemisi Bamiro, HOD, Pharmaceutics; Dr Taiwo Adewole, chairman, Alumni Association; Chukwuemeka Victor Francis, national president, PANS, among others.
