The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted 148 graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the Registrar, Dr NAE Mohammed, led them in the oath taking session.
The inductees were 2019/2020 graduates of the faculty, with 17 of them coming out with distinction, of which Oluwatomisin Temidayo Ajayi emerged as the Best Graduating Student.
Addressing the inductees, the PCN Registrar charged them to be the best at what they do, saying pharmacy practice is collaborative in nature and they can really excel if they do the right thing differently.
Mohammed, who was ably represented by the Director, Lagos Zonal Office, Pharm.(Dr) Ukamaka Okafor, urged the graduands to abide by the ethics of Pharmacy profession. The PCN Registrar also charged the graduands to take their internship programme seriously saying the programme provides a lifetime opportunity which they may never have again.
“There is no limit to where you can get to. 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”, the PCN registrar charged the graduands.
Earlier in his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, charged the graduands to be good ambassadors of the university and also be the best at what they do.
The VC, who was ably represented by Deputy Vice- Chancellor on Academics and Research, Prof. Oluwole Familoni, specifically advised 17 of the inductees with distinction to continue to distinguish themselves wherever they find themselves.
He used the occasion to appreciate lecturers, not just in the university but across the country for their effort towards the development of the nation’s education sector. “Lecturers in Nigeria are subsidizing training of students. In other climes, people give to universities generously and that is why I want to implore good Nigerians, people that are doing well and philanthropists to support, not just the faculty of pharmacy, but also the entire university”, the VC said.
The Chairman of the occasion, who also is the Chairman, West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Nigeria Chapter, Pharm.(Dr) Margret Obono, charged the graduands to be innovative and confident in themselves wherever they go.
Addressing the graduands before handing them over to the PCN registrar for induction, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Aderonke Adepoju-Bello, urged them to attend conferences to update their knowledge regularly.
In her address, an Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Pharm. (Mrs) Folashade Osho, who was the keynote speaker at the induction ceremony, which also doubled as the Faculty’s 8th Alumni lecture series, charged the graduands to prioritise continuous learning.
She said “New learning is important because knowledge is gradually becoming obsolete, so always update yourself. The faculty should also keep updating the curriculum regularly to meet current realities in the Pharmacy world”.
Pharm. Osho, who spoke on the theme “Pharmacy Practice in the new normal” stated that there is opportunity for pharmacists in the new normal, hence pharmacists have a big role to play.
She said “We pharmacists must position ourselves in alignment with the policy of the government and one of such areas is the local manufacturing of vaccine. Collaboration is also important. Let us shun professional rivalry with other professionals in the healthcare sector. Shake off hopelessness and helplessness, let us join hands together to build the Nigerian healthcare system”.
