The need to advance the national health care emergency system of African countries, in order to forestall a continental epidemic, was the focus of the two-day workshop on emergency health system in Africa.

The seminar, which was organised by the Association Of Good Clinical Practice in Nigeria (AGCPN) in conjunction with Pfizer Plc, was well attended by experts on the subject.

According to the President of AGCPN and Professor of Radiation  Medicine at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, the need for an effective and efficient health emergency system is indispensable,  to the overall healthcare service delivery.

Okoye argued that continuous neglect of health emergency will have negative effect across broad spectrum in the health sector.

She added that “there is the need for capacity development both human and infrastructural, with clinical trial as a fulcrum towards addressing future public health emergencies in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“There is the need for close collaboration between public and private establishments/sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa towards combating and reducing mortality and morbidity.

Also, Prof. Maurice Iwu harped on the need to enhance modulation in tracking diseases as well as the introduction of microbiota system. He noted that there is an urgent need for concerted efforts in improving healthcare emergency in the sector for optimum results.

The participants also emphasized  on how pertinent it is  for  all tiers of Governments, NGO and private partners to support clinical trials and research generally across Sub-Saharan Africa.

For some days now, news of a teenage girl, Amina Ibrahim, who died of Stevens-Johnson Syndrome, has become the talk of medical parlance, and of national concern. The poor girl ended up a consumed prey of this rare medical condition after being attended to, for cold and cough, by a quack chemist who, shortly after Amina was terribly down with this condition and was no more, disappeared into thin air. This occurrence, albeit very unfortunate, is very didactic for the Nigerian populace as far as rational and irrational drug use is concerned, and points to the very reason why qualified health care practitioners should, under all circumstances, be our first and last point of call for any of our health issues, and more importantly, why it behoves the medical personnel to improve their modus operandi.

Poised to provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning, the Alumni Association of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ibadan, has donated the sum of Two million, Five hundred thousand naira, to support the procurement of  a bus for the faculty.

The event, which took place at the Faculty of Pharmacy, on May 26, 2016, was attended by the executive members of the Alumni Association of the faculty, Dean of the faculty; Pharm (Prof.) Chinedum P. Babalola, FPSN, heads of departments in the faculty , executive members of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students, UI Chapter, representatives of the Director of Public Communication of the University of Ibadan and the Executive Officer of the Alumni Association of the University of Ibadan.

President of the Alumni Association; Pharm Olanrewaju Tiamiyu, while handing over the cheque to the Dean of Pharmacy, re-echoed the focus of the Alumni, which was saddled on helping the faculty and by extension, the University. Pharm. Tiamiyu mentioned that the most pressing need of the faculty was the procurement of a bus, which the faculty has been unable to procure in over 30 years of its existence. Though the Alumni executive was re-inaugurated in 2013, Pharm Tiamiyu mentioned that the collaborative efforts put in by all members of the Alumni, including the Board of Trustees, to ensure the success of the donation was just a tip of the ice berg.

Pharm (Prof.) Chinedum P. Babalola, while receiving the cheque applauded the Alumni for their efforts in assisting to provide an enabling environment for teaching and learning in the faculty. She mentioned that the faculty was able to raise some funds for bus procurement during the 30^th Anniversary of the faculty, but needed more funds to actualize the dream of having a bus to convey the students on outside postings and visits to community pharmacies.

Miss Bolutife Adedeji, the General Secretary of PANS, thanked the Alumni for the gesture and was hopeful that when the bus is eventually purchased, it will go a long way in alleviating the sufferings that the students go through in boarding public buses to go for external postings, ward-rounds and internships.

1st law: Conmen and salesmen are the same, except for integrity

People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude. – John C. Maxwell

In the sales world, integrity is everything. When we talk about successful relationships, whether in business or in our private lives, we talk about integrity. Integrity is not a common commodity. It is a product that lives inside the mind of a great man. It is a character trait that emanates from inside that overcomes the outside.

Integrity is rare, thus upheld by few; don’t expect it from everyone. Integrity is not riches, yet it is greater than wealth! It is an attribute that doesn’t come easily. Integrity is not a skill; it is a consistent character trait that distinguishes an individual. It is for individuals who want to prove a point even if they are standing alone.

Integrity is one thing everyone wants to see in any deal. Businesspeople want integrity. Spouses go for integrity. Students want integrity in their teachers. Followers want to follow a leader they can trust. Everyone is talking about the importance of integrity. Once integrity is missing, everything is gone!

Integrity covers every gap.  It fixes every other weakness. In the scale of leadership, integrity is rated higher than skill. A lot of people have skills but only few can boast of integrity. A man of integrity could be pardoned in other areas of weakness.

Integrity is the starting point in any appraisal. Deficiency in integrity affects other areas negatively. Integrity is one of the foremost qualities of a successful salesman. A salesman who shows a character of integrity will stand out always; he will command a lot of followership. Integrity has its place in the journey of success. No matter what you do or where you see yourself, once integrity is absent, everything is lost!

In sales, buyers buy from the salesman or company they can trust. This is a given. Sales activities happen everywhere and all the time. We close deals daily and on many occasions. Some deals could turn out as expected while some will furnish us with experiences.

The first unbreakable law of sales talks about two words: Conman and salesman. These two words could be grouped together because of the word ‘‘man’;’ but each one has its peculiarities. The salesman is in the business of selling and providing value to his customers, while the conman is in the business of deceit.

Integrity is the outstanding word that makes the difference in the first law of sales. It is the word that separates the salesman from the conman. The conman and salesman have some things in common. They sell products. They send proposals to their targets. They attend business meetings. But there still exists a difference. While the salesman sells truthfulness, the conman sells dishonesty! This is the distinguishing factor that separates the two.

It is important to note that when a salesman loses the essence of true salesmanship which hinges on integrity, then there will be need to redefine who he really is!  Real selling is Integrity. Anything else is deceit!

Conmen have their selling strategies! They are also innovative. They apply ‘‘reasonable level of ingenuity’’ to ensure they convince their victims. The advancement in technology has also expanded conmen’s trade. They now have the ability to send out thousands of ‘‘fake’’ business proposals. Their proposals come with punchy benefits! All these do not change anything. A conman is a conman; his attributes are consistently negative! He loses because he lacks integrity which is the soul of business. Conmen never keep to their words. Their main stock in trade is falsehood. The answer to sales success still dwells on integrity.

A professional salesman is a man of his words. He goes all-out to keep his words. The salesman who demonstrates an attitude of integrity to buyers wins their hearts. Buyers will buy and continue the buying experience from the salesman when integrity is intact.

In the business of selling, the importance of Integrity cannot be overemphasised. The more buyers believe you, the more you succeed. Be believable!

George O. Emetuche is chief executive salesman, The Selling Champion Consulting Limited. He is a Brian Tracy-endorsed bestselling author, sales trainer, motivational speaker, and sales and marketing consultant. www.thesellingchampionconsulting.com

In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Pharm. Olanrewaju Jonathan Ofi, chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ekiti State Chapter discusses a number of issues relating to community pharmacy practice in Ekiti State. The managing director of Lanre & Lanre Pharmacy and Stores, Ado-Ekiti, also enumerated the multifaceted benefits of the chain pharmacy concept, as well as why he thinks the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) should halt issuing of licences to patent medicine dealers in urban areas of the state. Excerpts:

 Tell us about your pharmacy – how was it at the beginning?

After my internship stints at the State Specialist Hospital, Ondo, Central Medical Stores, Ado Ekiti and Ondo State Ministry of Health, Pharmacy Division, Akure, where I spent four months respectively, I was offered employment at the State Specialist Hospital, Ondo. But I was only able to work there briefly because I got a better offer from a particular community pharmacy called Glory Pharmacy and Stores, Ondo State then. So, I was at Glory Pharmacy and Stores as a superintendent pharmacist for four years before I started my own Pharmacy, Lanre & Lanre Pharmacy & Stores in 1993.

At the beginning, it was interesting because, despite the fact that Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) drugs were available in the hospitals, prescriptions were still coming and people were patronising us because of our location. Patients had confidence  in us. They believed they could always buy genuine and quality drugs from us; so the patronage then was high.

However, in 2008, due to the road dualisation exercise embarked upon by the then state government, part of my pharmacy was demolished; and for good eight months, the pharmaceutical business was paralysed and some of the drugs expired. I was devastated.

Not long after, through the grace of God, I was able to raise some money and I spent so much on renovation with the approval of the state government. Unfortunately, however, another government came in 2011 and demolished the whole complex with the excuse of wanting to plant flowers to beautify Ado Ekiti, the state capital. Sadly, till today the flowers have not been planted.

Really, it is the grace of God that has made us to remain in existence and is still sustaining the pharmacy up till today.

 It’s been a year since you became the chairman of ACPN in Ekiti State, how would you describe the journey so far?

The journey has not been easy, but in the area of achievements, we have been able to bring ACPN into the limelight through our various activities in the state, especially our monthly meetings. We are now visible and we have good working relationship with our parent body, the PSN.

Admittedly, there were some major challenges that I faced when I assumed office, including lack of finance and low turn-out of members at monthly meetings. But I am thankful to God who has been sustaining us and I also appreciate my members for the trust they have in me and their cooperation so far.

It has always been my policy since I assumed this position to ensure that names and contacts of all members are included in the minutes of our monthly meetings, so as to regularly keep in touch with them and constantly furnish them with information about the association from time to time.

In terms of finance, ACPN-Ekiti is presently not owing a dime, as we have cleared all our debts that were outstanding before we came in. Another major issue is that of pharmacists from neighbouring states who wanted to come to Ekiti State to practise dual registration, that is, “register and go”. To prevent this, we now make every pharmacist registering an outlet to sign a printed undertaking that they will attend the monthly meetings and possibly reside in the state. This is to allow them work for the money they earn and to discharge their professional duties as the superintendent pharmacists at their duty posts. To God be the glory we are moving the profession and the association forward in the state.

 What is your assessment of community pharmacy practice in Ekiti?

Community practice in Ekiti is making tremendous progress. We now have pharmacies that are owned and managed by pharmacists in the state and they are doing well – unlike what obtained in the past, when we used to have numerous pharmacies owned by non-pharmacists flourishing at the expense of the professionals. There is a better future for community pharmacy in the state, especially in the rural areas where there are no pharmacy outlets.

 What would you say are the peculiar challenges facing community pharmacy practice in the state?

Access to high quality, efficacious and safe medicines remains a major concern worldwide. In Ekiti State, pharmaceutical premises are concentrated (about 70 per cent) mainly in the capital town, Ado-Ekiti. We are therefore urging and appealing to pharmacists to open pharmacies in the rural areas of the state also, so as to fulfill the global requirements of pharmaceutical care.

More importantly, professional indiscipline and lack of adherence to ethical issues (such as abetting charlatans) remain a big challenge. Also, there is the issue of the Rx sign, which is a symbol for quality products and excellent professional pharmaceutical care and service, but which some outlets are yet to embrace. This is quite worrisome because the symbol is part pf what distinguishes us from charlatans.

I also think community pharmacy outlets should be restricted to pharmacists, so as to prevent the issue of price competition. We have found out that some non-pharmacist-owned retail outlets sell at wholesale prices, thereby attracting more customers to their premises. I would equally advise existing community pharmacies to work on improving the facilities in their premises, so as to make their premises befit a standard pharmacy outlet and not a patent medicine shop.

 How lucrative is community pharmacy business in the state?

Community pharmacy business is very lucrative in Ekiti. As community pharmacists, we have many areas to cover in the sub-urban centres, as the capital city is saturated with patent and proprietary medicine vendors who outnumber community pharmacists.

Let me also quickly say that the PCN must stop issuing patent medicine licences in urban areas and the capital town. Also, the distance between two patent medicine shops should be increased to 800 metres in radius and 1000 metres to a pharmacy.

The chain pharmacy idea is becoming increasingly popular, how do you see the development?

It is a good development in the country because this is a system where a corporate organisation owns more than two stores with pharmacists in charge. It is a good development since pharmacists will always be on duty to attend to patients and to be in personal control of the premises. More pharmacists will be employed and this will reduce unemployment in Nigeria. Also, patients and the general public will be willing to patronise pharmacies where experts are available to provide safe medicine and pharmaceutical care.

In addition, there will be no room for any pharmacist to condone or assist in the manufacture, importation, distribution, sales or dispensing of drugs which are not of good quality. The ‘register and go’ syndrome will also be discouraged.

Furthermore, the concept will stimulate healthy competition among pharmacists. It will motivate existing community pharmacies to improve their facilities and the quality of their services, thereby enhancing community pharmacy practice in Nigeria. Very importantly, though, government should allow only indigenous pharmacists to establish chain pharmacies for now.

 You must have set some objectives for yourself at the beginning of your tenure, how far have you achieved them?

I took over as chairman a year ago and, while some of our objectives are still in the pipeline, others are presently being implemented. Our objectives include a programme called ‘Access to Pharmacists is Access to Health’. It is a programme in which access to medicine in the sub-urban and rural areas will be encouraged. This is to uphold pharmacy best practices by spreading the tenets to the rural areas to influence access to good medicine and pharmaceutical care.

Also, to avoid this profession being hijacked by charlatans, the regulatory authorities will be supported to carry out their functions effectively and efficiently. We are ready to partner effectively with regulatory bodies like NAFDAC, NDLEA, PCN, PIC and others in their anti-counterfeiting efforts.

Community pharmacists will also try all possible areas to invest through partnership. This is to help saturate distribution channels with professionals in the rural areas through personal cash savings, cooperative loans, supplier credits, loans from financial institutions with little interest.

Community pharmacists will equally be encouraged to participate in public health programmes such as the National Programme on immunisation and the Roll Back Malaria initiatives, as well as in policy formulation and implementation in the state.

 What is your assessment of the health care sector in Ekiti?

Health care delivery should be a teamwork because every professional has his or her role to play, and this role should be patient-focused. Unfortunately, the pattern in the state is the same as at the federal level.

A major challenge facing pharmacy profession in Nigeria is the problem of drug counterfeiting, how can this challenge be surmounted?

The National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG) is one programme that if well implemented, will solve the problem of fake and counterfeit drugs in the country. All pharmacists should support it and ensure it is well implemented so that it will benefit the professionals, as well as the general populace.

Also the state government should fund the State Task Force on fake and unwholesome products, while the regulatory authorities should carry out their functions effectively and efficiently.

In this exclusive interview with Pharmanews, Pharm. Sesan Kareem, prolific author and personal assistant to the PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, speaks on several pertinent issues in pharmacy education and practice – especially as it relates to young pharmacists in Nigeria. He also expresses his delight as PA to the PSN president. Excerpts:

What prompted your decision to study Pharmacy?  

I have a rich background in natural medicine. My great grandma and my mum were vast in using herbs, leaves, vegetables and other natural medicines to help people live healthy. I saw an opportunity in pharmacy profession to leverage my lineage’s rich experience to provide efficacious and safe natural remedies for various ailments. That was why I decided to study Pharmacy.

Pharmacy has always been my dream course and I’m very proud to be a pharmacist, although, my parents – especially my mum – wanted me to study Medicine, because one of my distant uncles, Dr Sunny Kuku is a very successful doctor. He is one of the owners of the EKO Hospital. The truth of the matter is if I were to go back to university again as an undergraduate I would still have studied Pharmacy.

 What has been your experience since you graduated from pharmacy school?

My experience since I graduated from pharmacy school has been diverse and rich. I worked for three years in community practice – JMK pharmaceutical limited, Magodo, as a locum pharmacist. I had my internship at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH). I served as a youth corps member in Imo State. Presently, I’m in administrative practice, working for the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) as personal assistant to the President of PSN, Pharm.  Ahmed Yakasai.

I’m also an entrepreneur, author, trainer and youth advocate. I registered my company, Mareek Image Concepts (MIC) with the Corporate Affairs Commission in July, 2013. Our focus includes publishing, training and coaching. I’ve authored some books. I’m a wellness and healthy living facilitator for the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), an expert freelance trainer of the London Professional Training Centre (LPTC), as well being the convener, Motivating the Nigerian Youth, a movement that has trained over 3,000 young Nigerians on leadership and self-development for free.

 What is your motivation for book writing as a pharmacist?

What really motivates me as a person is to help people grow, learn, develop and become better. I’ve authored and published five books – “Maximise Your life”, “Grab Your Destiny”, “Life Is Short, But It’s Really Worth It”, “With Patience You Are A Winner”, and “The Secrets Of A Fulfilled Life.”

I’ve just finished the writing processes of my sixth book – and my first health book – “The Secrets of a Great Health”. My third book, “Life Is Short, But It’s Really Worth It” was published by United PC., United Kingdom, and the book is available across the world. Others were published here in Nigeria. My purpose is to equip and educate people to discover, develop and deploy their inherent greatness in order to achieve their full potentials and make a difference. My values are service, sincerity, simplicity, ingenuity, constant growth, continuing development and team work. I hold on to the philosophy that man should beware of what lies before him, and what lies behind him, but, above all, he should beware of what lies with him.

 You were appointed personal assistant to the PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, last year; how would you describe your experience so far working with him?

Honestly, it is a great honour to be appointed by my mentor, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, as his personal assistant. Pharm. Yakasai is an astute leader, a business tycoon, a man of the people with vast experience and incredible achievements; but above all, he is a perfect gentleman.

You know it takes only great leaders to attract emerging leaders (smile). I was informed by another mentor of mine, Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi, that I would be the first pharmacist to be appointed as personal assistant to the PSN president in the 89 long years history of the Society. That shows you that Pharm. Yakasai is a trailblazer.

My experience so far working with him has been exciting and challenging. I have learnt a lot and I am learning immensely from him. His managerial and leadership skills, boardroom presence and administrative prowess have helped me to become a better leader, manager, administrator and thinker. I also believe I will continue to contribute my own quota to make sure the vision of Pharm. Yakasai of taking PSN to the next level is sustained.

Furthermore, I believe with every fibre of my being that by the time Pharm. Yakasai will end his administration as President of the PSN, I would have become better in all ramifications..

 What would you say are the challenges facing young pharmacists in Nigeria and how can these challenges be surmounted?

The number one challenge facing many young pharmacists in Nigeria is internship placement. Last year, I wrote a series of articles in Pharmanews on this and I proffered solutions. Let me paraphrase briefly some of my recommendations. One, exponential increase in the number of centres of internship placements; two, geometrical increase in the number of interns employed by tertiary and secondary health institutions; three, careful planning by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on the population of young pharmacists expected to graduate each year with corresponding internship placements/opportunities, using the Law School as a model; and four, willingness of newly inducted pharmacy graduates to go outside their comfort zone for internship experience, stop putting money first when looking for placement and start as soon as they see any opportunity.  My other recommendations can be read online.

The second challenge is the issue of “register and go” syndrome and the only solution to that is to encourage “register and stay” among pharmacists.

Thirdly, I believe as young pharmacists, we should put our resources, talents and expertise together. It is high time we started thinking of collaboration and partnership in order to achieve something substantial and tangible in the pharmaceutical sector – just as Fola Adeola, Femi Pedro and others did in the banking sector in the late ‘80s with Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB).

As a trained pharmacist, what is your preferred area of practice and why?

I’m currently practising as a pharmacist (smiles). However, going forward, my long-term goal is manufacturing of natural remedies of world class standard for local consumption and export across the globe. The reason is that the world is going green and the best cure to major ailments is in nature.

Natural remedies are safe and efficacious with fewer side-effects. Large scale manufacturing is also a very rewarding business, though it requires a lot of investment. In the medium term, I will look at importation of natural supplements and exportation of natural pharmaceutical active ingredients and excipients. In the short term, a world class community pharmacy.

However, I will still continue to write books, teach, train and inspire people because that connects me to the core of my existence.

As part of its commitment to improving the ethical and entrepreneurial acumen of its members, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Ipaja-Dopemu-Egbeda-Akowonjo (IDEA) Zone, recently held its 8th Annual Pharmaceutical Business Growth Seminar.

The seminar, themed “Growing Trans-Generational Pharmacy”, was held at Jjag Hall, Shasha, Lagos  and had in attendance eminent personalities and stakeholders in the pharmacy profession.

Dignitaries at the event included Pharm. Deji Oshinoiki, father of the day; Pharm. Olateju Olakiigbe, managing director, Egbeda Pharmacy and chairman of the occasion; Pharm. (Mrs) Folashade Lawal, MD/CEO, Victory Drugs Limited; Pharm. Ike Onyechi, (FPSN), chairman, Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited; Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale, Lagos PSN chairman, represented by Pharm. Oyekunle Babayemi; Pharm. Abiola Paul-Ozieh, chairman, ACPN, Lagos State; and Pharm. Madehin Olanrewaju Gafar, among others.

In his lecture which had the same title as the theme of the event, Pharm. Ike Onyechi, who described trans-generational pharmacy as a process of running a pharmacy business that outlives the owner noted that certain factors are essential to making a pharmacy business trans-generational.

“The pharmacy business should be structured in a way that when the owner dies, the business continues thriving, while the family keeps the business going in such a way that the vision and aspirations of the owner is well sustained,” he said, adding that it’s quite unfortunate that only 30 per cent of businesses in Nigeria survive the second generation, with 10 per cent surviving the third generation, and only three per cent surviving the fourth generation.

Using the example of Alpha Pharmacy Limited, the former chairman, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Nigeria Chapter, said a business must be built on the right foundation and according to God’s dictate.

He added that pharmacists must have sound knowledge of management, planning and marketing in order to run a successful trans-generational business.

“Community pharmacists must be readily available to give sound, professional advice and to help their clients deal with everyday health concerns and problems facing them,” he advised.

The doyen of retail pharmacy further told participants how Alpha Pharmacy Limited was doing all within its power not to become old-fashioned, saying that he had to rebuild the company’s Enugu Branch, furnished it to taste and moved it to a permanent site.

“Alpha Pharmacy and Stores Limited was founded in 1985 as a small outlet on Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Lagos, but today, the retail outfit has grown into a large community pharmacy store and a respected wholesaler and distributor of rare ethical products, and presently, it has eight branches strategically located in the north (Abuja), east (Enugu), west (three branches in Lagos) and south (two branches in Port Harcourt) of Nigeria for ease of distribution to numerous customers,” he stated.

Citing companies like Novartis, Samsung, Dangote Group, Deyo Pharmacy and Pharmanews Limited as some of the companies that have positioned themselves to become trans-generational, Onyechi advised community pharmacists to sharpen their skills and knowledge by attending short-time certificate courses as approved by international bodies and government, adding that the role of the pharmacist has evolved from provision of drugs and information to patient care and that pharmacy as a profession has come a long way and must continue to advance.

In his remarks, Pharm. Deji Oshinoiki urged all community pharmacists in the zone to collectively tackle the challenges facing quality health care delivery in the country and ensure they gain back the trust which the public once reposed in them.

Speaking in the same vein, chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Olateju Olakiigbe, said he was delighted that pharmacists in the zone are benefiting what others were not benefiting, adding that the annual business is apt as it affords pharmacists in the zone opportunity to learn from the experiences shared by the personalities who come to the seminar every year.

“The theme of this year business seminar focuses on growth and succession and for me, it is germane because it answers two questions on how we grow our businesses and what happen to our businesses after our death. Many of us are already planning towards this, but we need to be tutored by the experts on how best to go about it, so I am happy that we are now wiser and better informed,” he said.

In her own address at the seminar, Pharm. (Mrs) Mfon Nsese Ufot, zonal coordinator, ACPN, IDEA Zone, explained that the theme for the seminar was very important to pharmacists who always wish that their businesses continue to thrive after their death, considering the rate at which so many businesses crumble after the demise of their owner.

“The annual seminar has become a platform where experienced and seasoned pharmacists are brought to impact members of the zone and the public with knowledge on current startegies and skills required for profitable operations in today’s environment that is becoming rougher by the day. We need not over-emphasize the fact that pharmacists in the zone, as well as the public have always been positively impacted by these semianrs, and this in turn culminates in a better health care delivery system for the general public,” she said.

Also speaking at the event, Pharm. Folashade Lawal who presented the address, “Satellite Pharmacy: Opportunities and Challenges”, disclosed that satellites pharmacy are not common in Nigeria, despite their significance in meeting the needs of certain sets of people.

Speaking further, the Victory Drugs boss reiterated that the roles of pharmacists in the modern world has evolved into full-time patient care, as they now perform roles which medical doctors often neglect.

“We now have a suitable place for discussing confidential information with our customers and patients; we maintain and improve professional performance; we manage patients’ medication therapy; and we comply with national professional obligations, guidelines and legislation, among others,” she said.

She also emphasised that more community pharmacists show interest in establishing outlets in rural areas, noting that provision of drugs and health care in underserved areas is crucial.

“The reason why we should we endeavour to be in the rural areas is that we are needed more there as all Nigerians, irrespective of where they are located have the right to be served by us and these people in the underserved areas are dying unjustly.”

Speaking further, she explained that unlike the urban areas, rural areas are full of opportunities for community pharmacists.

“The opportunities in the underserved areas for we community pharmacists are numerous, as we are going to have access to enough space to locate our pharmacy, easy access to goodwill from people of the community, minimal running cost, less competition, highly profitable and possibly easy access to loan interest,” she noted.

–        As expert enumerates reasons salespersons underachieve

On 11 April 2016, staff of Maydon Pharmaceuticals Limited gathered at the conference centre of D’Palms Hotel, Airport Road, Ikeja for a two-day workshop, tagged ‘Leading and Managing Maydon Pharmaceuticals Sales Team for Result.’

In attendance at the workshop, conducted by Pharmanews-White Tulip Consulting, were sales managers, regional managers and the national sales manager.

Speaking on ‘Sales Management,’ Pharm. Tunde Oyeniran, chief operating officer of Pharmanews-White Tulip Consulting, disclosed that quite a number of sales representatives don’t like admitting that they find the job challenging.

“It is something we all know. Even Google, the almighty search engine,  confirms that sales management is not fun. Otherwise how come we have zero matches any time we search for words like ‘I love being a sales manager ‘, ‘I like being a sales manager’, ‘I love sales management’ or ‘I want to be a sales manager?

“By contrast, search for the following topics and you’ll be surprised at the number of results: ‘I love Paris Hilton (25,400 matches), ‘I want to be rich’ (102,000 matches) and ‘I hate my boss’ (59,200 matches),” he observed.

The training expert praised the sales managers of Maydon Pharmaceuticals for setting a good example through their open-door policy towards their sales representatives.

“Being a sales manager is not about you anymore. The day you become a manager, it becomes about them. Your job is to walk around with a can of water in one hand and some fertilizer in the other. When the reps are not making the numbers, the responsibility for ensuring that every member of the sales team is successful and performing at optimum levels lies entirely with management,” he stressed.

Oyeniran further explained that when a salesperson is underachieving, sales managers certainly have reasons to be worried.

“Cases like this tend to throw up questions like: Are they visiting and talking to enough prospects? Are they talking to the right people within the organisations? Are they able to penetrate the formal DMU (Decision Making Unit) and get to the MAN?” he noted

The pharmacist-cum-trainer enumerated eight reasons why sales people fail. According to him, the first mistake sales managers make is picking the wrong person for the position though a wrong or no selection process.

“Two, it is possible the sales people had little or no training at all. Three, the representatives were probably expected to do all of their own planning. Again, there is this mistake of leaving them without competent supervision.”

Continuing, Oyeniran said, “Let us look away from the usual administrative error. We need to also find out if sales people are properly motivated to meet objectives. It is possible too that they are inadequately supported by a competent manager, not stimulated by appropriate incentives and not regularly appraised against a set of agreed objectives.”

As a lasting solution to ensuring pro-active attention from sales people in various regions, Oyeniran counselled that managers must continue to meet with each person on the sales team to gather some “emotional intelligence (EI).”

The trainer further suggested that sales managers should also go on sales calls with members of their team and with a view to constructively critiquing their sales pitch later.

Oyeniran also stressed the importance of being sensitive to the personal and professional needs of salespersons as this is the most effective way to motivate and get the best out of them.

“Treat the people below you like kings and queens because they are doing the hard work. Be the person they want to come to with questions and problems. Realize that a salesperson’s problem is your problem.

“Train your team constantly and review team goals regularly. Always maintain your personal integrity. As a manager, teach self-sufficiency, resourcefulness and be ready to take bullets for the team,” he urged.

Quoting the popular maxim of Socrates, the pharmacist said, “A group of donkeys led by a lion can certainly defeat a group of lions led by a donkey.”

Maydon is a forefront pharmaceutical company in Nigeria. Incorporated in 1994, its main operations started in June 2006 shortly after registering with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). Since then, the company has continued to meet the health care needs of the people through its several NAFDAC-registered, commerce-and-industry-mediated and WHO-certified pharmaceutical products.

Currently, Maydon Pharma has over 74 registered products as well as over 40 staff across Nigeria.

Tamara is a 16-year-old student of Government Secondary School, Port Harcourt.  Quite frequently, he patronises D-Line Pharmacy & Stores on the same street as his family home.  All the members of his family are well known to Pharmacist Donald and the staff of the pharmacy.

To get some relief from a recurring headache, Tamara goes to the pharmacy to buy some painkillers.  Unfortunately, he does not have money on him at the time; so he takes the medication on credit with a promise to pay later.  He also collects a bottle of perfume and adds to his bill.

The following day, on his way back from school, Tamara stops at D-Line Pharmacy & Stores to pick up five more bottles of perfume.  He explains that they are required as Christmas gifts for his friends at school.  He is given the additional bottles of perfume on the condition that his entire bill will be settled by the end of the week.

Two weeks after, Tamara is yet to return to the pharmacy to pay his bill.  Incidentally, his mother comes to purchase anti-malaria drugs and is informed of her son’s outstanding debt.  Pharmacist Donald demands that Mama Tamara settle the bill for the unpaid painkillers and perfumes.  Mama Tamara refuses to pay, claiming that the sale of goods to her son is unenforceable because Tamara is still a minor.  In view of this, what is the legal consequence of the transaction?

As previously stated, a contract is an agreement which is binding at law.  However, even when all the ingredients of a valid contract are present, it may not be enforceable against certain categories of people like infants, lunatics, drunkards and the illiterate.  The general rule at common law was that contracts made by an infant were voidable at his option, i.e. not binding on the infant but binding on the other party.

The issues to be considered in this case are:

1. The meaning of infant.
2. The legal position of contracts made by infants.
3. The meaning of necessaries.

The position of contracts made by infants has been modified at common law by the Infants Relief Act of 1874 as follows:

(a) The Act specifically declares that three particular types of contracts with infants are absolutely void:

(1) contracts of loan, i.e., lending money to an infant;

(2) contracts for goods (other than necessary goods); and

(3) accounts stated.

(b)            Secondly, the Act stipulated that it would no longer be possible for an infant to ratify at majority, those contracts which were formerly not binding on an infant unless ratified by him after the attainment of majority.  In other words, if he now ratifies such contracts, such “ratification” has no legal effect.

The first issue to be determined is who is an infant?  The age of twenty-one has been fixed at common law as that at which absolute and unlimited legal capacity to contract shall commence.  Persons below that age are, therefore, infants for the purpose of contractual transactions.

In the case of Labinjoh v. Abake, a Nigerian adult sued to recover from the defendant, a Nigerian girl, the balance due to the plaintiff for the goods sold and delivered to the defendant.  On appeal to the Full Court, the court confirmed that the Infants Relief Act was a statute of general application in force in Lagos.  It therefore follows that, for matters governed by English law, the correct age of majority is twenty-one.

The second issue to be addressed is the legal consequence of contracts made by infants.  The summary of the Infants Relief Act of 1874 is as follows:

(a) All contracts of loan for non-necessary goods and accounts are absolutely void.

(b)            Contracts for necessary goods and beneficial contracts of service remain absolutely binding on the infant.

(c) Contracts which are binding on the infant, unless repudiated by him either during infancy or within a reasonable period after the attainment of majority, remain unchanged and unaffected by the Act.  These are contracts in which the infant acquires an interest in property, with continuing obligations, such as the purchase of land, leases, renting of an apartment, purchase of shares in a company, partnership agreements, etc.

(d)            Contracts which were not binding on an infant, unless ratified by him after the attainment of majority, were no longer ratifiable by him after majority.  In other words, such contracts become void.

In the matter of Tamara and D-Line Pharmacy, there was a purchase of painkillers and perfumes.  These two sets of items would be treated differently.  As it can be proven that the painkillers were necessary for use by the buyer (who was a minor); the perfumes, on the other hand, would be seen to be luxury goods.

Section 2 of the Sale of Goods Act provides that, “where necessaries are sold and delivered to an infant, or minor or to a person, who by reason of mental incapability or drunkenness is incompetent to contract, he must pay a reasonable price, thereof.” By this provision, Tamara would be liable to pay for the medication he bought, since those items were necessary.

The Sale of Goods Act defines necessary goods as “goods suitable to the condition in life of such an infant or minor or other person, and to his actual requirements at the time of sale and delivery.”  In the case of Chapple v. Cooper, Judge Alderson stated that “things necessary are those without which an individual cannot reasonably exist… thus, articles of mere luxury are always excluded, though luxurious articles of utility are in some cases allowed.”

In conclusion, the sale of painkillers to Tamara was a valid transaction for which he is liable.  However, the perfumes are luxury items, the sale of which would not be binding on Tamara, being that he is a minor (below the contractual age of twenty-one).

Principles and cases are from Sagay: Nigerian Law of Contract

“More objects are becoming embedded with sensors and gaining the ability to communicate. The resulting information networks promise to create new business models, improve business processes, and reduce costs and risks” Mckinsey – Internet of Things (2010)

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the networking of physical objects through the use of embedded sensors, actuators, and other devices that can collect or transmit information about the objects. Advances in wireless networking technology have made it possible to collect data from these sensors almost anywhere at any time. The information collected from these smart devices can then be analysed to optimise products, services, and operations.

In recent years, we see an increasing use of IoT in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. Pill-shaped microcameras – “chip in a pill”, a special ingestible pill – have been developed to traverse  the human digestive tract, capturing the health status, as well as drug effects on key organs, and transmit the data to a wearable device. This data is then sent as a report over cloud to health care personnel (HCP) for diagnosis. The information obtained can enable HCPs to prescribe personalised medicines that will improve drug efficacy considerably and reduce treatment period.

The Internet of Things is also applied in helping people keep track of their medications at home through smart devices used as personal medication assistant. An example is Amiko which aims to inform, alert and remind people with asthma (patient) to take the right dosage of medication and alerts them should the medication run low.

IoT is transforming the Healthcare industry. Use of smart devices in clinical development and supply chain has helped in many aspects such as manufacturing and supply chain management, higher R & D productivity, improved pharmacovigilance and regulatory compliance adherence.

Scope of application

•  Research and development

IoT applications such as “’Organ in a Chip” can drastically improve R&D productivity through rapid trials running multi-stage diagnostics as noted by Akash Shrivastava, a lead consultant with life sciences. During drug development and clinical trials, smart reporting and advance analytical tools will help generate vital diagnostics, enabling real-time reporting as there will be no need for continual feedback by subjects. This will reduce data reporting cost.

• Reduce time-to-market for new drugs

IoT application can enable pharma companies to plan better with faster decision making using real-time information obtained from smart systems integrated across the pharmaceutical value chain components. The insights acquired during drug research, efficacy, adoption, patient outcomes will be valuable to leadership and marketing teams especially during drug launch, drug pricing, and drug marketing and related strategy development.

• Regulatory compliance adherence

IoT application will enable real-time data reporting to central systems through the use of  smart devices. This will help improve pharmacovigilance and adverse effect rate can be minimised using the vital diagnostics collected from patients, thereby improving drug quality in terms of safety.

References:

• Shrivastava A. (2015) “NextGen Pharma takes smart strides with Internet of Things” Wipro Ltd, Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore – 560 035, India. http://www.wipro.com/documents/nextgen-pharma-takes-smart-strides-with-internet-of-things.pdf

• Chui M., Löffler M., and Roberts R. (2010) “The Internet of Things”. McKinsey Quarterly.
• Christopher Colucci (2015) “Internet of Things in Pharma & Healthcare” https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/internet-things-pharma-healthcare-industry-christopher-colucci.

In line with Pfizer contribution to the advancement of medical knowledge and its demonstrated commitment to world class medical education, capacity building and excellence in the pharmaceutical industry, Pfizer has just participated at the International Symposium/Doctoral Colloquium, held at the University of Benin.

In his opening remarks, the Vice- Chancellor, Prof. Orumwense ably represented by Prof. Abiodun Falodun, expressed the determination of the institution to be a very strong research-based  institution in all academic fields, adding that it was a  privilege to have a guest lecturer, a professor of Pharmacology from the University College of London.

Appreciating the University authority for bringing such a distinguished academic like Prof. Humphrey Rang, on behalf of the College of Medical Sciences, Prof. V.I Iyawe, expressed the desire of the students and staff of the college to have more of such programmes organised in the institution.

Speaking at the conference, titled “Drug discovery in a changing world”, Rang disclosed that over the past 50 years, new therapeutic drugs have been exclusively discovered and developed by the Pharmaceutical industry which has transformed modern medicine. The rate at which new medicines are introduced remain high. Despite its antecedents, herbal medicine practices of Pre-history, and the origins of apothecaries trade in the middle ages, science-based drug discovery was impossible (with a few exceptions) until the scientific coming –of –age of the key disciplines.

A professor of Pharmacology from the University College of London, Rang called on governments to invest in research into drugs and cure to advance medical practice in the country.

He reiterated that the increasing emphasis on identifying and exploiting new drug targets, a strategy exemplified by the development of the first beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs, ACE inhibitors and strains proved highly successful towards the end of the 20^th century and the industry produced many profitable block buster drugs.

He posited that in the last 30 years, most notably, the growing importance of molecular cell biology and genomics,  have provided many new techniques and therapeutic opportunities, but also thrown up new challenges for the industry.

Rang enumerated the benefits of modern medicine, saying the rate at which new medicines are introduced remained as high as ever.
He said drug discovery depended largely on the support of the government because of huge financial involvement just as he called for international donors supports.For instance, he said it cost him $1 billion to get into the discovery of drugs for certain ailments.
A professor of pharmacology at the University of Benin, Professor Hope Obianwu also noted that over 4 million Nigerians are sickle cell anaemia patients.
He said the only cure for sickle cell “though funny” is marijuana which is identified as a narcotic. My research on sickle cell anemia which we have used and proved the efficacy is Indian hemp for the proper treatment of sickle cell anemia “that is the good, the bad and the ugly side of marijuana.
 Representative of Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company at the event, Luke Agbo said Pfizer Company in partnership with the University of Benin believes in making the world a healthier place. “Partnering with the university in programmes like this will help expand the broad of knowledge.” He said.
He added that, the lecture exposes students and stakeholders in the medical sector the opportunity to appreciate science noting that,” Pfizer is doing a lot of work to enable our local scientists to develop strengthen that capacity and also trying to create an enabling environment for young intellectuals, particularly the medical and pharmaceutical students.”  

Towards the need for continuous capacity building in the pharmacy profession, Pfizer Plc has organised a one-day Pfizer Pharmacy Academy, to intimate community pharmacists in Lagos with global trends in the practice, to equip them for world class health care delivery,  comparable to what obtains in developed countries of the world.

Details later…

Poised to rid the nation of illegal circulation of substandard drugs, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed 27 pharmacies and 111 patent medicine shops in Delta State, on Monday 16, 2016.

Speaking during the exercise, according the Channels TV reports,  the Director and Head of Inspection and Monitoring, Mrs Anthonia Aruya, who led the team of inspectors, said the shops were sealed for offences ranging from dispensing poisonous drugs, poor storage conditions and non-registration with PCN.

The operators, around  Asaba and Okpanam axis who were taken unawares by the visit of the monitoring team, had nothing to say, as they were aware of the consequences of their unlawful operations.

Also in Warri and its environs, the monitoring team which was led by the Head of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi, sealed several pharmacies and patent medicine shops which were operating illegally.

Pharmacies and medicine shops that were duly registered with the PCN were not affected.

At the end of the exercise, which lasted for one week, Mrs Aruya advised members of the public to patronise only licensed pharmacies and patent medicine shops, as drugs purchased elsewhere could not be guaranteed to be safe for their use.

Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, has advised pharmacy students in the country to choose only institutions and centres accredited by the Council for their industrial attachment programme.

Addressing a gathering of 92 Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Akoka, during their recent induction and oathtaking ceremony which held at the institution’s main auditorium, Mohammed explained that the Council has made perennial search for prospective internship centres easier for students.

“Those of you who are in the habit of waiting for special call-ups from states and federal government parastatals are only wasting your time. You are not coming to sell motor spare parts or endanger the lives of Nigerians,” he cautioned. “Drugs are meant to saves lives. Therefore, as young professionals, ensure you do things right. When one doctor makes a mistake in diagnosis, only one patient dies. But when a pharmacist makes a mistake in compounding or mixing of drugs, a generation of people can pay dearly for it.”

The registrar further charged the graduands to always consider saving human lives ahead of monetary gain.

“If you are caught compromising your professional integrity in a desperate attempt to use your licence in unethical practice like ‘Register and Go,’ the PCN will not spare you. You will not only lose your licence, all your years of toil and hard work would have amounted to naught. Therefore, let he that has ears listen,” he warned.

The PCN boss congratulated parents of the graduands for encouraging them to complete the first phase of pharmacy training, saying that the second phase entails undergoing a mandatory one-year internship training programme under the supervision of a registered pharmacist in an accredited internship training facility.

Mohammed urged the graduands to get acquainted with the profession’s codes of ethics, adding that today’s Pharmacy has now been divided into two phases – products and practice components.

He explained that until now, Nigerians were used to only the product component which he described as a case of “bring-the-drug-and-collect-your-money”, noting that that Pharmacy had however been broadened to include counselling and patient care.

Urging the graduands to distinguish themselves from patent medicine dealers who are only out to make money, the PCN boss assured them that financial rewards would certainly come in the course of their commitment to professionalism.

The high point of the event saw one of the graduands, Pharm. Ayoola Babalola Smith, scooping up three awards – the PCN Prize to Best Graduating Student, the Faculty of Pharmacy Dean’s Prize to Best Graduating Student and the Pill Box Pharmacy Gift to Best Graduating Student; while Titilope Maryanne Ajayi picked up the prestigious Bowl of Hygeia Award (exclusively for lady pharmacists).

The colourful ceremony equally witnessed a massive turnout of participants, including the professors, faculty members, pharmacists in academia, students, parents as well as top PCN and PSN officials.

Prominent in attendance were Pharm. Ogheneochuko Omaruaye, chairman of the occasion; Prof. Duro Oni, UNILAG deputy vice chancellor (management sciences); Prof. Udoma Mendie, professor of microbiology; Pharm (Chief) Yetunde Morohundiya, former national chairman of Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPS); Prof. Boladale Silva, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy; Prof. Olukemi Odukoya, former dean; and Pharm. Tosin Adeyemi, chairman, National Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA).

Others were Pharm Ernest Okafor, managing director of Nemitt Pharma; Pharm. Bamisaye Oyawaluja, NAPA vice chairman; Pharm. (Mrs) Fatima Ikolaba, NAPA treasurer; Pharm (Mrs) Ogochukwu Amaeze, NAPA financial secretary; Pharm. Aminat Oyawaluja, lecturer, department of Pharmacognosy and Dr Rebecca Soremekun, a senior lecturer in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy.

Congratulating the graduating students, Prof Boladale Silva, faculty dean explained that aside from the induction marking the end of a five to six-year sojourn, it also marks the beginning of a career in pharmacy profession for the new inductees.

“As you go into another phase of life, you will undoubtedly be faced with so many obstacles but with these challenges come opportunities for leadership and innovation. It took Noah Webster 36 years to compile his Webster’s Dictionary. Where would we be today if he had not put in those countless hours of hard work behind his grand contribution to English Language?” he said.

The dean also charged the students to remain focused and remember that there are no shortcuts to success.

According to him, just like carbon, people also undergo a transformation under pressure and heat.

“The pressure of a challenge releases energy. When all is well, we don’t set tough goals. When we set high challenging goals, we see opportunities that were not visible before,” he remarked.

Silva expressed his appreciation to the PCN, PSN, UNILAG management, as well as academic and non-teaching staff of the faculty for their commitment and unflinching support over the years.

Ten first class graduands of the session (2014/2015) were presented at the event. They include: Ayoola Smith, Azeezat Ajenifuja, Oluwakemi Esan, Adenike Oyegbesan, Tope Elijah, Adeola Aminu, Titilope Adelekan, Innocent Akinnawo, Chukwudi Okwelogu and Uchechi Okpara.

The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), has charged the pharmaceutical industry to come up with strategies that will deliver inclusive growth, build vital competences, create wealth for all stakeholders and contribute substantially to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Pharm. (Prince) ‘Gbenga Falabi, the national chairman of NAIP, gave this charge during the recent opening ceremony of the 19th Annual National Conference of the association, held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, chaired by Dr Christopher Kolade, former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

According to the NAIP boss, stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry must begin to embrace Systems Thinking and Disruptive Thinking in developing human capital assets across board, while leveraging on technology to build capacities.

He further noted that the pharma industry will need to reinvent itself in order to effectively match, with required skills and competences, the emerging challenges confronting it at the moment, warning that the dearth of production pharmacists will pose a challenge for the current push to encourage the industry in favour of local production in line with the inclusive growth policy of the federal government.

The NAIP national chairman stated further that the pharma industry fully identifies with the commitment of the Buhari administration in restoring investors’ confidence in the nation’s economy, as well as its zero-tolerance for corruption across board.

He, however, urged the government to treat the health sector and the pharma industry as vital segments of the economy, which deserve special attention and preference as a result of their strategic roles in the nation’s well-being.

Pharm. Falabi bemoaned the paucity of foreign exchange to import finished pharmaceutical products and essential pharmaceutical raw materials for local production, adding that the situation portends a very dangerous development with serious negative consequences for the nation in terms of the availability of essential medicines for the citizenry.

He urged the federal government to urgently consider preferential allocation of vital foreign exchange to the pharma industry.

Speaking on the theme of the conference “Workforce Development: Imperative for Industrial Pharmacy Development,” Mr Uche Attoh, the keynote speaker, urged stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry to take the issue of mentoring of the next generation of pharmacists seriously, noting that young pharmacists can learn a lot from notable professionals in the industry.

He also urged pharma industry stakeholders to market the industry – not only to attract the best brains but to retain such, despite the increasing cutthroat competition for the best personnel in the industrial sector.

Also speaking at the event, Dr Christopher Kolade congratulated NAIP for its 19th national conference and its choice of theme for the conference.

The distinguished elder statesman and seasoned industrialist also urged pharma industry stakeholders to take the issue of mentoring serious, adding that every generation must have a generation to follow.

While expressing confidence that the future of Nigeria would be great, he urged every Nigeria to contribute positively towards making this a reality soon enough.

A young pharmacist, Akinsola Bakare, plans to set up a community pharmacy in his neighbourhood.  He approaches Shomolu Microfinance Bank for a loan to facilitate his project.  His application is processed by the microfinance bank and a six-month loan facility is approved.  However, one of the conditions of the loan is the provision of a guarantor with a net worth exceeding the value of the loan and interest payable.

Consequently, Akinsola contacts his father in Abeokuta and appeals to him to stand as guarantor for the loan.  To support his son’s project, Pa Bakare travels to Lagos to meet with Shomolu Microfinance Bank, accompanied by his nephew, Olatunde.  Pa Bakare is not literate in the English language.  A simple Letter of Guarantee is therefore written on his behalf by Olatunde.  The letter does not contain the name and address of the writer but it is signed by Pa Bakare.

Six months after the loan facility was issued, Akinsola’s community pharmacy is yet to generate enough revenue to repay the loan.  To enforce the recovery of the outstanding sum, Shomolu Microfinance Bank contacts Pa Bakare to repay the loan on his son’s behalf.  Pa Bakare, however, contends that he was not aware that he would be required to pay the outstanding sum in the event of a default.  He explains that his understanding was that he was simply attesting to his son’s credibility and was in no way exposing himself to the risk of the transaction.

On the basis of this guarantee arrangement, what is the legal position of both parties?

A contract is defined as an agreement which is binding at law.  However, even when all the ingredients of a valid contract are present, it may not be enforceable against certain categories of people like infants, lunatics, drunkards and the illiterate.  Where the contract made by an illiterate person is an oral one, his position is no different from that of any other adult person.  He will be entitled to no privilege over the other party and will be fully liable for all his obligations.  Nevertheless, where the contract is in written form, special rules will apply.  These rules are to be found in various laws enacted in Nigeria for the protection of illiterate persons.

The issues to be considered in this case are:

1. The legal position of contracts made by illiterate persons.
2. The duties of the writer of such a contract.
3. The meaning of illiteracy.

Section 2 of the Illiterates Protection Law provides as follows:

Any person who shall write any letter or document at the request, on behalf, or in the name of any illiterate person shall also write on such letter or other document his own name as the writer thereof and his address; and his so doing shall be equivalent to a statement

(a) that he was instructed to write such letter or document by the person for whom it purports to have been written and that the letter or document fully and correctly represents his instructions; and

(b) if the letter or document purports to be signed with the signature or mark of the illiterate person, that prior to its being so signed, it was read over and explained to that illiterate person, and that the signature or mark was made by such person.

In our case, involving Shomolu Microfinance Bank and Pa Bakare, the writer of the document was his nephew, Olatunde.  As earlier stated, the Letter of Guarantee does not contain the name and address of the writer.  In the case of U.A.C. v. Edems & Ajayi, the defendant was also a guarantor of a debt owed to the plaintiff company by one of their customers.  The defendant sought refuge under the Illiterate Persons Act, claiming that the guarantee was void because the contents of the document he thumb imprinted were not read over and explained to him.

From the decision in this case, it is now clear that the writer of such a document is not necessarily the person who negotiates the agreement.  It is the person who enters the name and address of the illiterate person in the document.  If such a writer fails to enter his name and address, or fails to prepare a statement to the effect that the agreement was read over and explained to the illiterate, before the latter put his mark on the document, as required by Section 3 of the Act, such a contract cannot be enforced against the illiterate person.

The most important issue to be determined in all such cases is whether the defendant is really an illiterate person, and so entitled to the protection of the law.  In PZ. & Co. Ltd. v. Gusau and Kantoma, the High Court took the view that “illiterate” meant not literate in the language used in the document under consideration.  It is irrelevant that the defendant might be literate in some other language.  Justice Oputa further propagated this view in the case of Osefor v. Uwania, when he defined an illiterate person as one “who is unable to read with understanding, the document made or prepared on his behalf… Illiteracy is thus purely comparative.  A graduate in English may well be an illiterate in German.”

Concluding this matter, it is evident that strict regulations are applied to protect illiterate persons who may be disadvantaged in contractual negotiations.  In doing so, however, the position of Justice Kayode Eso must be considered that, “while the law is aimed at preventing an illiterate from being cheated, it does not, in our view, provide him with a weapon to cheat others.”

Principles and cases are from Sagay: Nigerian Law of Contract