Managing Director of Pharmanews Limited, Sir (Pharm.) Ifeanyi Atueyi, was among 22 distinguished personalities recently made Fellows of the Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON).
PEFON, which has Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, managing director of Juli Plc as chairman, board of trustees, aims to identify Nigerian professionals, home and abroad, who have excelled in their chosen fields.
The induction ceremony, graced by several captains of industries and other professionals, took place at Hotel Victoria Palace on 27 September, 2014.
Dignitaries at the occasion include Sir (Dr) Oladipupo Bailey, founder of the foundation; Chief Badru Olaogun, oath administrator; Engr Also Abdullahi, director (steel development), Ministry of Mines & Steel Development; Mr.Dozie Atueyi, executive director of Pharmanews, representing the managing director; Kunle Aderinokun, associate editor in THISDAY newspaper and Olufemi Okeleye, PEFON secretary
In his welcome address, Bailey declared that PEFON was practically the only Foundation that aims to bring distinguished professionals from all walks of life under the same umbrella.
He stressed that, aside giving special recognition to those who have excelled in their chosen careers, the body’s objectives also include raising scholarship funds to assist young ones become professionally qualified, as well as identifying those who, though are not professionals, have established conglomerates that have employed a large number of professionals.
“We strive to celebrate people like Pa Akintola Williams who is about to celebrate his 95thbirthday,” he said.” He is one of those celebrated professionals we like to recognise.”
Explaining more about the purpose of the Foundation, Bailey said, “Today, we have many graduates roaming the streets; some riding okada with good grades. These are some of the people we hope to engage and solve this shortage of manpower in Nigeria. By so doing, we will be building the right leaders for this country.”
Sharing Bailey’s optimism, Adelusi-Adeluyi remarked that there was nothing as grand as an idea whose time had come.
He said, “In Nigeria today, I make bold to say that about 0.05 per cent of the 170 million people are the ones who really run things in this country. Majority are mostly onlookers. Therefore it became imperative to repromote character formation.”
The former minister of health however lamented that good people were not often celebrated in the country.
“It is only when one dies, you hear statements like ‘You are the best president Nigeria never had.’ This is one area PEFON hopes to change. How can we do this? As professionals representing every facet of life, we will continue to grow steadily. By the time we reach about 100 members, we will then gradually start exerting our influence. That is why I congratulate you all, especially our new inductees,” he emphasised.
The induction of Atueyi has increased the number of pharmacy professionals with PEFON Fellowship.
Others include Dr (Mrs) Stella Okoli, chairman, Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, managing director of JuliPlc; Dr Michael Oyebanjo Paul, chairman, Mopson Pharmaceutical Limited; Dr Nelson Uwaga, former PSN president and incumbent president of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); and Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, PSN national president.
