In this exclusive interview, the President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), University of Lagos (UNILAG), Miss Oluwanifesimi Agbede, speaks on her interesting pharmacy journey. The Ondo State-born young scholar, who is presently in 500-Level, also recounts her foray into PANS politics as well as the achievements of her administration. Excerpts:
Tell us about your pharmacy journey.
Pharmacy wasn’t my first choice, as I wanted to be a nurse back then in secondary school. I spent three years seeking admission to study nursing science, but nothing worked out.
A good friend of mine, Anita Harris-Isa, was the first person to tell me about considering pharmacy. I didn’t know much about it then, but I was open to trying out a new challenge. Thankfully, it was a good decision I made.
Pharmacy school turned out to be adventurous and fun, amidst the many “shades” characteristic of our dear pharmacy school. The best part is that I can’t wait to become a proud pharmacist in a few months.
What were your motivations for contesting for the post of PANS president?
My major motivation is my love for serving others and helping people. Besides, I find myself naturally predisposed to filling in the gap for administrative roles and other roles that give me the capacity to influence decisions or policies for the benefit of the larger population.
While I had served in other less prominent positions of leadership before now, the eureka moment came when I first campaigned for the office of vice president. I was very confident that I would do a great job serving the students to the best of my ability. I gleaned so much insight and experience from that office.
The goal hasn’t changed since then: making a difference and helping people solve problems.
Can you tell us some of your achievements and challenges so far in office?
We are more than halfway into our tenure, and thankfully, I have been able to check many boxes of the things planned out for the tenure. There were also a couple of other things that came up unplanned but for which lasting solutions were applied.
One of the earliest issues that came up during our tenure was the increase in tuition and accommodation fees, which was a wide-scale issue that affected virtually all federal universities. This sudden development constituted a potential jeopardy for many students, and thus, PANS needed to help the situation as much as we could.
We started with dialogue with the school authority for a reduction, but not so much could be achieved. I was able to partner with some organisations, like the African Women on Board, which made generous donations to the students.
We awarded scholarships to many students who were unable to finance their tuition, and the cumulative funds raised for this project ran into millions of naira. I couldn’t have been happier to have been a part of how these students were given renewed hope.
Other things we have achieved so far in this administration include the renovation of the PANS-UNILAG Secretariat to create a befitting environment. We also held a skills acquisition programme during the holiday. We partnered with some organisations like Hibreed and PANSites and honed skills such as data analysis, graphic design, and video editing, to mention a few.
How are you balancing academic work with the stress of running the PANS office?
I have learnt firsthand that leading in a capacity such as this and managing academics is a daunting task, and only a hard-working person can successfully navigate both duties.
Delegation is a vital skill that has helped me thus far. As I said, the tasks are intimidatingly vast, and no one person can individually do them all. Thanks to true comrades into whose capable hands I have been able to confidently leave certain tasks, while I take more of a supervisory position in seeing them done. This also allows me to channel my time and energy to other things that require them as a matter of emergency or greater priority.
In all, diligence underlines a true leader’s core values. I do my best to give my best to my academics in the rather little time that is left for it. Thank God for sustenance.
If you had the privilege of changing some things about pharmacy education at UNILAG, what would they be?
I have noticed that the majority of pharmacy students are smart, but their grades aren’t a reflection of their academic prowess. Some students fail some courses not because they’re not so smart but because they don’t understand the topics taught and they aren’t so good at cramming.
That being said, changing the grading system in pharmacy school is something I would love to do. Our grades shouldn’t be determined by our in-courses and examinations alone; our lecturers can start grading our presentations and assignments for each course as part of our cumulative score.
I would also love for pharmacy students to get more practical knowledge than theory, and I would also love the addition of important courses to our curriculum that we need in the outside world to become outstanding pharmacists. In this ever-evolving world, we need courses on technology, entrepreneurship, and good managerial skills.
What is your advice to female pharmacy students seeking to follow in your footsteps by vying for PANS presidential posts?
You can do anything, irrespective of your gender or background. Don’t allow any limitations from people. Believe in yourself, and be ready to serve others selflessly. On a lighter note, “your reward is in heaven”; this isn’t a paid job, but it will help you build capacity as a female leader and it will help you stand out in the outside world.
I would love to see more females step up and take up this role. We shouldn’t leave it for men only. Females are not limited to taking up lower positions. If I can do it, you can do it too, and do it even better.
