Pharmacist Lawrence Osaretin Ekhator, current chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Lagos State Branch, was born into the family of Mr Robert Ighitu Ekhator and Mrs Rachael Amen Ekhator on 26 November 1973 in Lagos. He is an indigene of Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State.
Ekhator attended International Women Society (IWS) Day Nursery School, from 1976 to 1978; then Corona School, Gbagada, from 1978 to 1984. He had a brief stint at Igbobi College, Yaba, from 1984 to 1985, after which he proceeded to the Federal Government College, Warri, from 1985 to 1990.
He soon gained admission to study Pharmacy at the University of Benin (UNIBEN) in 1992 and obtained his B.Pharm in 1997. He also obtained a master’s degree in Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy from the University of Lagos, in 2002.
Ekhator had his internship at the renowned Commercial Medicines Stores, Yaba and Lagos Island, where his interest in community practice was kindled. Thereafter, he proceeded to observe his mandatory one year National Youth Service at the General Hospital, Offa, in Kwara State.
He started his career as a fully licensed pharmacist as a medical representative with Wyeth/Delpitano Pharmaceuticals from 2000 to 2007. He was involved in the marketing of the Wyeth range of pharmaceuticals and the nutrition segment of the company. Wyeth Nutrition, being operated then by I-Japt International Company Limited, was the sole marketer of the SMA range of infant formula and was actively involved in the introduction and marketing of SMA Progress into the Nigerian market, as the number one follow up milk for weaning infants.
He also had a stint as product manager with Mega Lifesciences and Royale Resources Limited, before moving fully into community practice in 2008. He has been the superintendent pharmacist of Robson Pharmaceuticals Limited, in Bariga, Lagos State, since then.
Ekhator is an active member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), as well as other professional bodies.
He is also a pharmaceutical inspector of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) and has served in various capacities at the zonal, state and national levels of the ACPN. He was a secretary of the Gbagada Zone of the ACPN, before becoming state assistant secretary, then secretary and vice-chairman and then national assistant secretary.
He has also served in various committees of the ACPN and PSN at various times.
Ekhator, a merit award winner of the Lagos State PSN is happily married to Mrs Blessing Ekhator and the marriage is blessed with children.
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