-Tasks Pharmacy Faculty on PharmD Approval
It was a celebration of a living legend at the New Auditorium, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) Sagamu Campus, on Friday 30 April 2021, as the former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Pioneer Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy of the institution, Prof. (Mrs) Mbang Femi-Oyewo, delivered her Valedictory Lecture in grand style.
The well-researched farewell lecture, which attracted academics from different parts of the country, was also viewed virtually via ZOOM.
Top among the dignitaries who graced the occasion include: Vice-Chancellor, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, OOU, Prof. Deji Agboola; Provost, OACHS, Prof. Olatunji O.Adetola; Prof. Olobayo Kunle, NIPRD; Dean, OOU, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr (Mrs) Yemisi Bamiro; Dr (Mrs) E.A. Adejumo; Mr Ajao Olasunkanmi, former deputy director of academics, Lagos State, and his wife, Mrs O. Ajao, among others.
Though an academic gathering, the occasion was a rewarding moment for the out-going passionate professor, whose tireless efforts have raised many scholars and professionals of repute, who attested to her impactful efforts in their lives and careers.
Among them was Mr Oloyede Olabanji, who spoke on behalf of the Alumni association of the faculty, noting that her name has been opening doors for them, as they are usually called the “Oyewo boys”.He prayed God to grant her more opportunity to serve in greater positions like NAFDAC DG, health minister, and others.
Prof. Kunle also confirmed the selfless and unpretentious lifestyle of the celebrant, who graciously granted him a year sabatical leave in her faculty, without any stress. “She even gave me the key to her office for the one year period. The quality in human packaging is what she has achieved in this university”.
Dr (Mrs) Tolulope Ajala, from University of Ibadan, didn’t agree less with others as she introduced herself as an addict of Prof. Femi-Oyewo, who has benefited immensely from her milk of kindness when she supervised her Ph.D programme.
In his contribution, Prof. Tiwalade Olugbade, a close associate of the out-going professor, said time management and foresight were her companion, as he urged younger female lecturers to brace up to step into her shoes.” Who is going to replace her in this faculty, especially among the women?”, he challenged.
Themed: “Pharmacy Profession: Evolving with Innovations and Disruptions”, the Valedictory Lecture chronicled the evolution of Pharmacy practice and it stages of metamorphosis from the apothecary model to compounding, distribution, clinical pharmacy, pharmaceutical care and finally to total pharmacy care model, describing the latest model as the best for patients’ benefits.
Speaking on the innovations and disruptions in Pharmacy practice, which include use of robotics and AI’s algorithms in drug production and administrative processes, the out-going lecturer pointed out that pharmacists and patients are the new disrupters of healthcare .
“The healthcare team of physicians, nurses and patients is not adequate . The Dream Team should have pharmacists who are holders of Pharm.D. They are doctors on the bench and the drug experts.They are needed for Medication Therapy Management as drug experts to help educate patients for maximum optimisation of the drugs and cost of healthcare .
“Medication non-adherence is a $300 billion dollar problem considered the most fixable problems in the US. Pharmacists must therefore be brought to the centre of the Team”, she stressed.
The woman of many firsts, who joined the league of septuagenarians on 4 April 2021, also narrated her sojourn at the OOU from inception til the end of her stay, having left her footprints in the sand of time in the institution with several milestones achieved to her merit.
Some of the feats she achieved in the institution are: NUC full accreditation 2000; PCN full accreditation 2000; Establishment of OOU Water in Faculty of Pharmacy, now taken over as university venture; Sourced and brought in equipment of over N15 million into the faculty; Successful hosting of the Nigerian Association of Academic Pharmacists (NAAP).
She also successfully held the 1st Annual Conference and Scientific Symposium, Sagamu, 2000; 2nd Annual Conference and Scientific Symposium, Sagamu, September 2001; Successful hosting of Foreign Pharmacists Graduate Orientation Programme (FPGOP ) -2006; NUC full accreditation 2015;PCN full accreditation 2016, among others.
The out-going professor of Pharmaceutics and Technology, however charged the faculty on the attainment of Pharm.D programme approval, urging the faculty leadership to brace up to the task.
She also mentioned the need for the Faculty of Pharmacy to be considered for a 2nd phase of building funded by the Tetfund, while calling for the government to intervene in the perennial crises rocking the healthcare system.
 Mbang Femi-Oyewo, delivered her Valedictory Lecture){kind=link}