PCN Inducts 18 fresh Pharmacy Graduands at UNILORIN

pharmacy

As dean pays tribute to Late Prof. Agunu

Amidst pomp and pageantry, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of IIorin (UNILORIN) has inducted 18 new graduates into the pharmacy profession.

The colourful induction and oath-taking ceremony of the Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) Degree graduands, which took place at the institution’s main auditorium recently, attracted the rank and file of the school management officers, eminent pharmacists both in academic, hospital and administrative positions and  parents.

Speaking at the occasion, Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed, registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) represented by Pharm. Anthony Idoko, congratulated the graduands, parents, UNILORIN vice-chancellor, academic and non-academic  staff, adding that the faculty is living up to standard.

“These promising young men and ladies here today have completed the first phase of their training as professionals and are now fit to compete favourably with their colleagues in all areas of practice for services to humanity and also to God.

“The second phase of your Pharmacy training starts with the one-year statutory internship programme which is compulsory for all pharmacists in Nigeria, including those who trained abroad without evidence of licensure in countries of practice,” he said.

Mohammed frown at professional misconduct in its entirety, saying that any form of misconduct by its pharmacists are usually investigated by PCN investigating panel, which refers erring pharmacists to disciplinary tribunal (with status of Federal High Court in Nigeria) when found guilty.

“Note that sentences such as removal of pharmacists name from the pharmaceutical register for a given period of time could be passed.

“This is why I enjoin you to keep off from Register-And-Go syndrome that has tarnished the image of pharmacists and brought the profession to ridicule. Learn to always uphold the ethics of the profession at all times,” he charged.

The PCN registrar also urged the university management to ensure it always retain its best materials for internship and official engagement.

“I also want to sound the note of advice to the new graduands. Do not fill your career with abandoned projects, make purposeful changes in life to compliment your experience, be focused and wait patiently for your time,” he charged.

In her opening remark, Dr Rasheedat Ayanniyi, acting dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences commended UNILORIN vice-chancellor, his management team, staff of the faculty, the PCN, NUC and trusted professors of the institution such as Prof. M.T. Bakare-Odunola, Prof. Titus Iranloye and Prof. Moses Akanmu.

She also acknowledged the tremendous contributions of past deans of the faculty such as Prof. Philip Olurinola, Prof. Hajarat Ibrahim and, of course, late Prof. Abdulkarim Agunu.

“Before I return to my seat, I will like us to use this opportunity to pay tribute to our late dean, Prof. Abdulkarim Agunu who departed this world on 15 July, 2018. Agunu was a team leader, mentor, a friend and a father to us all.

“We were so privileged to have worked with such an amazing team leader who genuinely cared deeply about his team members and students. His courage, determination and sense of humour are traits we will always carry with us,” she declared.

The induction ceremony reached a climax when Quadri Ajibola Omotesho was announced as the overall best graduating student. With a CGPA of 4.53, the former president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PANS), UNILORIN Chapter, won the PCN Award for Best Graduating Student (first male to clinch it in UNILORIN) and Prof. Agunu Memorial Prize for Best Graduating Student.

Other prize winners were Remilekun Agbana, Prof. P.F.Olurinola Prize Award; Nusirat Ibrahim, Prof. Hajarat Prize Award and Oyeyiola Rasheedat, Chief Opaleke Foundation Prize.

In attendance were Prof. Chinedum Babalola, keynote speaker; Dr Mohammed Amali, subdean; Pharm. S. A. Atunwa, academic staff and Pharm. K. M. Salawu, academic staff.

Approved by the senate on 22 May 2010 with Prof. Philip Olurinola and Prof. Hajarat Ibrahim as its pioneer and second deans respectively, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences (one of the 15 faculties in UNILORIN) is divided into 6 departments. They are departments of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacy Practice, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Pharmaceutical and Medical Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy as well as Pharmacology and Therapeutics.

A landmark achievement was recorded on December 12, 2017 when the senate at its 267^th meeting approved the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum. Following the approval, the first set of PharmD students were admitted into the 2017/2018 academic session. The faculty also signed a five-year memorandum of understanding with UNILORIN Teaching Hospital to facilitate the take-off and success of this programme.