Bello makes history, emerges first female PSN Kwara chairman

Pharm. Munirat Kikelomo Bello has emerged as the new chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Kwara State Branch, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the state.

Bello emerged at the branch’s election held in Ilorin at the weekend, defeating two other candidates to take over the leadership of the association.

Her emergence marks another milestone in her leadership career within the pharmaceutical profession. She is the immediate past Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Kwara State Branch, where she also made history as the first woman to lead the association.

A graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Jos, Bello began her professional career in community pharmacy practice and later relocated to Ilorin, where she has continued to contribute to the development of the profession through leadership, advocacy and community pharmacy initiatives.

Reacting to her victory, the newly elected chairman expressed appreciation to members for the confidence reposed in her, describing the outcome as a collective victory.

“This victory is not mine alone; it is ours. It is a testament to our collective strength, unity and belief in a greater PSN Kwara,” she said.

Bello pledged to lead the association with integrity, transparency, and inclusiveness, placing members’ interests and welfare at the centre of her administration and advancing the pharmaceutical profession in Kwara State.

She will lead an executive comprising Pharm. Isaac Onimisi Salami as secretary; Pharm. Yunus Ahmed Tijani, internal auditor; Pharm. Kolawole Adetutu A. Abosede, treasurer; Pharm. Okpodu Ununotovo Ekemena, financial secretary; Pharm. Ramon Shadiat, public relations officer; Pharm. Alhaji Durowoju Lasisi Ayodeji, deputy chairman; and Pharm. Olaoyo Patience Pearl, assistant secretary.

Others are Pharm. Oloniyo Abidemi Mercy and Pharm. Samuel Arome O, both ex-officio members, while Pharm. Abdulmalik Mohammed Baba, the immediate past chairman, will serve as Immediate Past Chairman.

Speaking on his expectations of the new administration, Pharm. Abdulmalik Mohammed Baba urged Bello to regard the new assignment as a continuation of leadership and build on the achievements recorded by previous administrations.

“Governance is continuous. I would expect the new chairman to build on the achievements of the past leaders and also focus on whatever plans she has for Kwara PSN,” he said.

He described the outgoing administration’s three-year tenure as a period of significant progress, as he briefly cited interventions in infrastructure, members’ welfare and financial sustainability. Among these, he noted the installation of a 5kV hybrid solar system at the secretariat, initiatives towards establishing a PSN-owned bottled water project and efforts to improve the remuneration of young pharmacists, particularly those in community practice.

He also disclosed that the administration handed over a substantial amount to the incoming leadership and left the association at a loan-free level.

Beyond these achievements, however, he identified unity as the most important responsibility before the new administration.

“Most importantly, which I told the new chairman, is unity. She needs to bring everybody together. You identify and carry everybody along. It makes things easier,” he said.

According to him, Bello must ensure that members across the various interests within the association feel carried along, stressing that unity has remained one of the strengths of Kwara PSN at the national level.

He urged the new chairman to sustain the identity of Kwara pharmacists as “Kwara United” within the national body by building bridges among members and ensuring an inclusive administration.

He however expressed confidence that Bello would sustain the level of development she inherited while bringing her own vision and leadership agenda to the association.

With her election, Bello becomes the first woman to lead PSN Kwara, following her previous leadership of ACPN Kwara and marking a new chapter in the history of pharmacy leadership in the state.