– Grants Scholarship to Alimosho Grammar School Girls
In a celebratory conclusion to the year’s activities, the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs) Lagos State Chapter, honoured a number of personalities and distinguished pharmacists, including, Dr (Mrs) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, first lady of Lagos State; Dr (Mrs) Stella Okoli, GMD of Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, publisher of Pharmanews; Dr (Mrs) Dere Awosika, chairman of Jospheine Consult; Elder Deji Osinioki; and Elder Ebenezer Adeleke, recognising their significant contributions to the group’s initiatives over the years. The event, held at the NECA House Events Centre in Ikeja, Lagos, also featured scholarships awarded to two female students from Alimosho Grammar School Complex.
Themed, “Career Advancement and Being Unrelegatable as a Woman in Healthcare Practice in Nigeria,” the 2024 ALPs Forum attracted key figures from the Pharmacy profession, including Pharm. Tanko Ibrahim, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Dr (Mrs) Monica Eimunjeze, CEO, D’bio; Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Morohundiya, immediate past vice-chairman, BOF; Pharm. (Mrs) Scholastica Lan, ALPs national chairman; and past chairmen of the state chapter.
Keynote speake, Dr Dere Awosika emphasised the critical roles women play in families, society, and the nation, motivating attendees to pursue their career aspirations despite challenges. She urged women to balance their professional and personal lives and highlighted the necessity for lady pharmacists to showcase their capabilities within the healthcare community, thereby earning respect and recognition.
Dr Awosika drew upon her own experiences to illustrate how pharmacists can transform perceptions in the healthcare sector, asserting that women are vital to national advancement. She encouraged her younger colleagues to leverage their unique strengths and strive for resilience in their professional endeavours.
“Women constitute an indispensable element in the quest for national development of a nation. A profession begins with family whether married or single and that is what God has done by giving women a special strength and that cannot be changed. Therefore women’s career advancement, gender equity, driving support to woman-owned businesses, and women’s economic empowerment through various initiatives locally and internationally are overly critical in nation-building,” she maintained.
ALPs Chairman Pharm. (Dr) Afusat Adesina opened the forum by expressing gratitude to members and sponsors. She gave an overview of the association’s achievements throughout the year, including initiatives related to cancer awareness, drug abuse education, and support for the girl child.
In an interview with Pharmanews, Adesina noted that the ALPs Forum serves to unite lady pharmacists and other professional women, creating a platform for reflection and networking after a busy year. She described the forum’s theme as timely, particularly as women across various fields break barriers and excel.
Additionally, the forum included plans for humanitarian outreach, with a visit to the Igbobi Orthopedic Special School to celebrate with children and support their needs.
“Lady pharmacists in Lagos State must strive to continue to contribute your quota to healthcare and be that lady pharmacist that is innovative, collaborative and that can network to deliver healthcare effectively in the state and Nigeria as a whole,” she charged.
Pharm. (Mrs) Foluke Akinniranye, chairman of the ALPs Forum Planning Committee, expressed appreciation for the contributions of sponsors and acknowledged Sir Atueyi’s support for the association. She encouraged lady pharmacists to actively participate in all areas of pharmacy, asserting that women can achieve leadership roles and should not underestimate their potential.
She said, “You should not feel inferior to their male counterparts. You shouldn’t feel that you can be relegated because nobody can relegate you unless you allow yourself to be relegated. So please all lady pharmacists should take up the challenge that nothing can be handed to you if you do not show that you are competent. Nobody can give you anything on a platter of gold. You should stop the entitlement mentality. Nobody is entitled to anything except what they see that you can do.”
The highlight of the event was the scholarship presentation to two girls from Alimosho Grammar Schoo Complex, Marvellous Awolowo, from Community Junior Grammer School and Kairat Basiru, a student of Ipaja Junior College, bringing the total number of beneficiaries supported by the association to six.
The 2024 ALPs Forum embodied the spirit of empowerment, collaboration, and recognition of women’s invaluable contributions to the healthcare sector in Nigeria.
 Lagos State Chapter, honoured a number of distinguished pharmacists, including; Dr (Mrs) Stella Okol){kind=link}