– As PCN inducts 148 UNILAG graduands
Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. (Dr) Elijah Mohammed; Chairman of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WACPC), Nigeria Chapter, Pharm. (Dr) Margret Obono; and Chief Executive Officer, LiveWell Initiative, Pharm Bisi Bright, have called on young pharmacists to distinguish themselves by doing things in unique ways, so as to achieve excellent results.
Delivering the keynote address at the recent pre-mentorship programme for the 2019/2020 graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, with the theme “Stand Out from the Pack: Start Now”, Bright charged the young pharmacists to do things differently, saying this is the only way they can stand out and not be stuck in the pack.
“To stand out from the pack, you must make yourself a brand and describe yourselves with adjectives,” Bright said. “You can have a personal dress code. You must have a good self-esteem, and learn to use the right language. You must have a personal goal by setting one, five or 10 years development plans for yourselves. Get noticed.”
The consultant clinical pharmacist also charged the young pharmacists to think radically. She said: “If you think like everybody, you will be like everybody. Imbibe core values; excel in spiritual hygiene by loving God and your neighbour. Keep learning, unlearning and relearning; endeavour to close knowledge gaps.”
Also addressing the graduands, Obono, who was the chairman of the 2019/2020 Induction Ceremony and Alumni Lecture Series of the faculty, charged them to be confident and innovative at all times.
The WAPCP-Nigeria chairman said, “To you the graduating pharmacists, you have just completed a phase in your life/career and about to move into another phase. The next phase may be what you dreamt of or may not fit into the picture of pharmacy practice that you have in mind, depending on where you carry out your mandatory internship. The fact is that the training you have received as a pharmacist can enable you to stand your ground anywhere. So be confident.
She added: “Pharmacy is a noble profession and no amount of the challenges in the healthcare sector can change that fact. I have never regretted studying pharmacy or practising as a pharmacist. You are going out as eagles. Be confident. Dream big. Come up with disruptive innovations and change the narrative. There is a great future for the pharmacy profession in Nigeria, create your own success story”.
Addressing the inductees before handing them over to the PCN registrar for induction, Dean of the faculty, Professor Aderonke Adepoju-Bello, charged them to adapt themselves to evolving trends in pharmacy practice.
She told them, “The future is very bright and challenging. Be ready to participate in the new trends and the new normal that COVID-19 has imposed on all pharmacy practices. Learn more and diversify by going for out-of-school trainings, so that you will be able to fit in properly.”
Also sensitising the inductees shortly before administering the oath, the PCN registrar, Mohammed, who was represented by the Director, PCN Lagos Zonal Office, Pharm. (Dr) Ukamaka Okafor, charged the young pharmacists to be the best at what they do, saying they can excel beyond their imagination, if they do the right thing differently.
The PCN registrar also charged the graduates to take their internship serious, saying that the programme offers a lifetime opportunity that they may never have again.
“There is no limit to where you can get to,” Muhammed charged them. “Take your internship programme serious because it may be the only opportunity you will have in that area of pharmacy practice. Be the best at quality assurance so as to be in compliance with global best practices.”
A total of 148 graduands of the faculty were inducted by the PCN, 17 of whom came out with first class honours. Oluwatomisin Temidayo Ajayi was named best graduating student.
, Pharm. (Dr) Elijah Mohammed; Chairman of the West African Postgraduate College of){kind=link}