It was a moment filled with emotions and gratitude to God, when the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and other stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry, assembled to celebrate Pharm. (Mrs) Ukamaka Gladys Okafor PhD, during her retirement from active service, after 22 years of meritorious service to the council.
The occasion was graced by the Registrar, PCN, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed; Chief Executive Officer of the African Resource Centre for Excellence in Supply Chain Management, Pharm. Azuka Okeke, and chairmen of technical arms of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), among others.
Speaking at the programme, Pharm. Ahmed, described Dr Okafor as a God-fearing and family person to the core, with excellent in everything she sets out to do. As a regulator, he said she focused on the truth and upheld ethics to the letter. He added that everyday revealed a new perspective of what Okafor stands for and recalled the commitment she displayed while working on her book- Textbook of Public Health Pharmacy.
He noted that their relationship over the years moved from being colleagues to that of a family bond. He wished her the very best in retirement and prayed that God in His infinite mercies will continue to protect, strengthen, and bless her, even as the council continues to reach out to her and other colleagues in retirement from time to time.
Okafor joined the PCN in October 2001 as a principal pharmacist and served the council in various departments and capacities, particularly in policy development and reviews, public-private partnerships, curriculum development and reviews, research, advocacy, and capacity building, until she retired as the director, PCN, Lagos Zonal Office.
She stood out in proactiveness, strategic thinking, initiating, developing, coordinating, and leading projects and quality assurance systems, and building and sustaining strong corporate relationships that have expanded and strengthened the activities and regulatory functions of the council.
As part of her contributions towards improving the regulatory functions of the PCN, Okafor initiated and coordinated various collaborations, which resulted into the sponsorship
of five PCN staff in the Postgraduate Diploma in Industrial Pharmacy Advanced Training (IPAT) Programme, at Tanzania, funded by UNIDO; MSc and Ph.D. in Biotechnology Innovation and Regulatory Sciences (Purdue University, USA), funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF); and Externship at Cipla Quality Chemical Industry (CIPLAQCi), Uganda.
She also initiated and coordinated the first ever Human Resources for Health Capacity and Training Needs Assessments within the Public Health Sector in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Kebbi States, in collaboration with the people that deliver (Supply Chain Division of UNICEF), and the project for strengthening the logistics and supply chain management capacity of pharmacists, in collaboration with the African Resource Centre for Excellence in Supply Chain Management.
Okafor has been opportuned to undergo training at different educational institutions including Massachusetts Institute of Management; University of Washington; West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists; Texila American University; University of Lagos; Purdue University USA, University of Nigeria; Nsukka, and Girls Secondary School Ozubulu, among others.
Apart from her more than twenty (20) peer-reviewed publications, editorial board membership, and review of notable international journals, including the Pharmacy Education Journal of the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), she authored a book titled “Giving – A pathway to fulfillment, coordinated and edited a 928-page textbook on Public Health Pharmacy, authored by 32 subject matter experts, including herself and published by the University of Lagos Press. This is the first textbook of Public Health Pharmacy in Sub-Saharan Africa.
She is an awardee and grantee of many international organisations, including Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Medical Practice Consortium/Independent Medical Education, GSK International, United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), International Conference in Improved Use of Medicines, (ICIUM), International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), Leaders of Africa Institute and Africa Research Excellence Fund.
She is the Founder of Chiekwe Ezeokafor Foundation, a Member of the Board of Trustees, and Co-sponsor of Nkoyo Akanikang Foundation, a nonprofit organisation; that gives quality education/training to underprivileged children and also reaches out to widows in need in rural communities of Nigeria.
Okafor is happily married with four children and has enjoyed the amazing support of her family in accomplishing her goals.
Also in attendance at the event were: Chairman of West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists Nigeria Chapter, Pharm. (Dr) Margaret Obono; Lagos State Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Pharm. ‘Bisi Omolambe; representative of the Committee of Friends, Pharm. Ifeanyi Emenne; Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle; Association of Lady Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr Afusat Adesina; Chairman, Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, Pharm Ken Onuegbu; Chairman, Association of Public Health Pharmacists of Nigeria, Pharm. Biola Paul-Ozieh; Chairman, Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria, Dr Dupe Oyawole; and Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Pharm. Lawrence Ekhator, all of Lagos State branch, and others.
 Ukamaka Gladys Okafor PhD, during her retirement from active service, after 22 years of meritorious serv){kind=link}