-As Pharmacy Faculty Holds 10th Alumni Lecture
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), on Tuesday, inducted 112 Pharmacy graduands of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), having satisfactorily completed their programme at the institution.
The inductees graduated from the faculty during the 2023/2024 session, with Wuraola Comfort Olayiwola emerging the Overall Best Graduating Student with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.91. Out of the 112 students, 38 of them graduated with distinctions.
The Registrar, PCN, Pharm. Babashehu Ahmed, who was ably represented at the event by the PCN Lagos Zonal Officer, Dr Taiwo Filusi, led the 112 graduands in an oath taking session.
While speaking shortly before leading the graduands in oath taking session, the PCN Registrar said the oath taking/induction ceremony is one of the requirements set out by the PCN Act before a graduate can be registered as pharmacists.
He however urged the inductees to uphold the ethical standard of the pharmacy profession. He also urged them to take their one year compulsory internship programme seriously, insisting that they can only observe the programme at PCN internship accreditation centre, even as he urged them to take full advantage of the programme to acquire valuable knowledge, hinting that it is once in lifetime opportunity.
The PCN boss emphasised that strict compliance to the ethics of Pharmacy is indispensable. While encouraging the inductees that they will excel, as long as they are diligent in what they do, he urged them to keep improving themselves.
He urged the inductees to refrain from professional misconduct, stressing that PCN frowns at it. The PCN Registrar also urged them to refrain from all forms of dishonesty, while also exploring the research aspect of pharmacy practice.
“Refrain from all forms of dishonesty. As pharmacists, you are expected to acquaint yourself with the code of ethics of the profession. After registration, you have the opportunity to compete in the industry and I can assure you that the sky is your stepping stone. Be at the frontline of the health sector. Don’t fill your career with abandoned projects”, the registrar charged the inductees.
Earlier in her remark, the Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Professor Gloria Ayoola, commended the graduands for their resilience, dedication, sacrifice, and commitment, which led to their academic success. She urged the inductees to continuously seek knowledge and embody the virtues, values, and ethics of their profession.
Prof. Ayoola said the induction and oath taking ceremony marks the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and unwavering commitment to the pursuit of pharmaceutical excellence.
While charging the graduands to keep learning, Prof. Ayoola, said the digital age is experiencing rapid change, hence staying abreast of the advancements will allow them to remain effective and relevant in their practice.
“AI will allow you to achieve things beyond what was once imaginable but let us also remember that technology should always enhance, not replace the human touch. Patients’ value and trust you not only for your knowledge but also for the compassion and reassurance you bring to their care”, Prof. Ayoola said.
The Dean however urged philanthropic individuals and corporate bodies to invest in the faculty of pharmacy to enable the institution to keep producing top class pharmacists that are future ready.
In his remark, the Chairman of the event, a former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, said the graduands are entering into the pharmaceutical profession at a challenging time, particularly in light of the significant issues facing Nigeria’s healthcare sector.
He lamented the shortage of pharmacists in the country, stating that the current ratio is about 16,000 patients to one pharmacist, as against the supposed 2000 patients to one pharmacist. He sees the challenges in the pharma sector as an opportunity to strengthen the pharmaceutical industry, both in Nigeria and globally, through the integration of AI.
He said “The goal of integrating AI into pharmaceutical practice is to create a healthier future for all Nigerians, ensure no child dies from malaria or diarrhea due to lack of access to the right medication, reduce maternal mortality, and ensure no elderly person is neglected because they live far from the nearest pharmacist.
“Pharmacy in the digital age is not a distant dream; it is here and now, and you-our bright mind, our innovators, our caregivers are the ones who will ensure it thrives even in the face of our challenges”.
In his presentation, the Guest Speaker for the 10th Alumni Lecture, with the theme “Pharmacy in the Digital Age: Embracing AI for a Healthier Future”, Pharm. Olanrewaju Awolokun defines Artificial intelligence as the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
Pharm. Aowolokun who titled his lecture “Revolutionising Healthcare with Artificial intelligence” Noted that artificial intelligence is meant to assist man to do better, noting that AI can work with the speed of light, thereby enabling it to do more tasks in a shorter time. He argues that AI will not replace man but will expand human intelligence.
Explaining the role of AI in the healthcare sector and in relation to the pharmaceutical industry, the speaker said AI will help the healthcare and pharmacy profession in the area of enhanced diagnosis, enhanced treatment plan, operational efficiency, drug discovery and development, as well as remote monitoring and telehealth.
“The current trend is digital healthcare, which has given rise to telepharmacy, where pharmacists do not need to see patients face to face”, Pharm. Awolokun said.
He noted that there is teleconsultation now as well as e-prescription. “AI also helps in big data analytics and it is being used now in drug development”, the guest lecturer said.
He also said that AI will enhance prescription accuracy, reduce operation cost and ultimately improve patients’ outcome. Although he identified some challenges facing AI applications among which are data privacy and security, risk of Algorithm biases as well as regulatory compliance hurdles, among others; he insisted that digitalisation is the way to go.
He said “we need to embrace technology in every area of our life. There is a huge avenue for us as pharmacists to use AI”. He specifically calls for collaboration between AI and human Pharmacists.
The Chairman PSN, Lagos Chapter, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle, in his remark commended the graduands. He said the chapter will be hosting the three best graduating students of the set at its annual luncheon, adding that cash and plaque will be given to them and as well induct them into the Lagos PSN.
The Chairman, Nigeria Chapter of the West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacist (WAPCP), Dr Margret Obono congratulated the inductees and urged them to further their education by enrolling into the college. The National Chairman, Association of Community pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh, on his part, urged the inductees to have role models/ mentors that can guide them in the face of challenges.
Aside the formal presentation of the inductees by Prof. Ayoola to the PCN Registrar, who then administered the Pharmacist’s Oath and presented Provisional Certificates of Registration to them, other interesting session of the event was the presentation of prizes and awards to the best graduating student, Olayiwola, and other outstanding students of the set.
The award/prize which are in various categories include PCN prize for the best graduating student, Faculty of Pharmacy Dean’s prize for the best graduating student, the WAPCP prize, Board of Fellow of PSN prize to the best graduating student in clinical Pharmacy, which was won by Princess Kamsy Okeke, ACPN prize for best graduating students in clinical pharmacy.
Others are the Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) award for outstanding pharmacy student, which was won by Grace Oluwanifesimi Agbede, as well as the Bowl of Hygeia Award, which was won by Jesutofunmi Victoria Abisagbo, among others prizes.
