Experts Charge Young Pharmacists on Ethical Compliance, Innovation

– As PCN inducts 132 UNILAG pharmacy graduands

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) recently inducted 132 graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) into the profession, urging them to prioritise innovation and comply with the ethics of the profession.

Of the 132 inductees, who were the 2024/2025 set of the faculty, 67 graduated with distinction. Samuel Jeremiah Opeyemi emerged as the overall best graduating student, Livewell Divine Amalachukwu as the second best, and Kutu Sarah Motunrayo as the third best.

The induction ceremony, which also featured the 11th Alumni Lecture of the faculty, brought together notable dignitaries who charged the new pharmacists to uphold ethics, embrace innovation, and position themselves as leaders in the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape.

In his address, shortly before leading the inductees in the oath-taking session, the Registrar of the Council, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, represented by the Director of the PCN Lagos Office, Pharm. Taiwo Filusi, described the induction ceremony as an important statutory requirement before registration as pharmacists.

He reminded the graduands that the one-year internship programme remains compulsory and must be completed in PCN-accredited centres. He cautioned them against travelling abroad before completing their training, noting that they would need a letter of good standing before practising in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, or Canada.

The PCN Registrar said: “Before you ‘japa’, finish your internship. Foreign countries will demand a letter of good standing, and without full training in Nigeria, you cannot get it.”

He warned against professional misconduct, including the “ghost pharmacist” syndrome, stressing that the Council’s investigative panel and disciplinary tribunal have the authority to suspend or revoke licences. He urged the inductees to maintain high ethical standards, avoid dishonest practices, and commit to continuous professional development to remain relevant in modern healthcare.

In her remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Folashade Ogunsola, represented by Professor Oluwole Familoni, described the induction as a major milestone and urged the new pharmacists to be worthy ambassadors of the institution.

The Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Sunday Adesegun, also encouraged the inductees to embrace innovation and adapt to emerging trends shaping global pharmacy practice.

The Chairman of the occasion, Group CEO of Horizon Holding, Dr Victor Afolabi, urged the graduands to embrace innovation as a guiding principle, noting that change has become constant in the world. He observed that the future no longer rewards those who simply maintain the status quo, but those bold enough to imagine something better.

Afolabi charged the graduands to be resilient in the face of challenges and not to be defeated. He also urged them to manage their expectations and outcomes, saying life rarely unfolds as planned.

“There is no substitute for hard work. Diligence shapes your reputation, determines the quality of your results, and opens doors that brilliance alone cannot. As you go forth, let excellence be your standard and let diligence be your signature,” Afolabi charged the graduands.

Delivering the faculty’s 11th Alumni Lecture, themed “Bridging Tradition and Technology: Strengthening Pharmacy for a Digital and Global Future”, the keynote speaker, Pharm. Adesola Arowolo, vice-president of PBR Life Science Platforms & Solutions, observed that digital tools, artificial intelligence, e-pharmacies, and biotechnology are transforming the pharmacy profession.

She warned that pharmacists must lead technological disruption rather than become victims of it. “The question is no longer whether technology will disrupt Pharmacy, but whether pharmacists themselves will lead the disruption or be displaced by it,” Arowolo said.

She explained that many health-tech innovations worldwide are being created by non-pharmacists, despite pharmacists’ unique understanding of medicines, patients, and clinical judgement.

The PBR Life Science Platforms & Solutions vice-president urged the graduands to strengthen their ability to apply clinical judgement within digital systems, noting that AI may flag drug interactions but only pharmacists can interpret such alerts in the context of a patient’s overall condition.

She also emphasised the importance of data literacy, saying modern healthcare requires pharmacists to think not only about individual patients but also about patterns and population-level outcomes. She encouraged them to recognise gaps encountered in practice and use those challenges as inspiration for building new solutions.

Arowolo further stressed the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, pointing out that some of the best health-tech innovations have emerged from teams involving pharmacists, engineers, designers, and business experts. Despite rapid technological change, she cautioned the inductees never to lose the human touch, reminding them that empathy remains central to pharmaceutical care.

She urged the graduands to be curious, intentional, and unafraid to explore non-traditional pathways in pharmacy, saying their degree should serve as a platform, not a limitation.

The Special Guest of Honour, Pharm. Adesola Bakare, urged the graduands to uphold integrity, curiosity, humanity, and pride in the profession. Bakare encouraged them to constantly update their knowledge on new drugs, devices, and wellness practices, and to apply global insights in ways that meet local needs.

Chairman of the Lagos State Chapter of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Oyekunle Babayemi, commended the graduands and assured them that the Society is working to ensure more internship opportunities across the state.

He disclosed that the PSN will honour the three best graduating students of the faculty at its annual ceremony next year and encouraged the new pharmacists to become active members of the Society.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of various awards to distinguished students in recognition of their academic excellence and outstanding performance.