Pharm. Munir Elelu, is our Personality for April

pharmacy

Pharm. Munir Elelu, the chief operating officer of Yusra Consults Limited, is currently the deputy president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) North, and consultant on various health policies and projects to local and international organisations. Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, on 31 October, 1957, he graduated with a B.Pharm from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1980.

After graduation and upon completion of internship and national youth service in the old Bendel State, Elelu joined UpJohn Nig. Ltd, as a medical sales representative in 1984 and rose to become its district sales manager (North), before deciding to venture into community pharmacy, as the managing director of Nassarawa Pharmacy, Kano.

In 1996, Elelu was employed by the Ministry of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. He rose to the position of director, Pharmaceutical Services, Hospitals Management Board, Federal Capital Territory Administration. He retired on 31 October, 2017, and has since been into healthcare consultancy services.

Elelu holds a Master of Public Health degree from University of Ilorin and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and supply, as well as the International Association of Public Health Logisticians. This is coupled with various local and international training, including Supply Chain Management, Procurement (Crown Agents of London), Monitoring and Evaluation (MEND) Leadership and Management (Crown Agents of London), Effective Service Delivery (ASCON) Advanced Management (ASCON), Change Management (KBS), Sales and Marketing, Healthcare Commodities Supply and Logistics, as well as in  Pharmaceutical Service Delivery.

His hospital and administrative work experience include the headship of many hospital pharmacies. He was pioneer project manager, FCT Health Services Insurance Scheme. He was also head, Abuja office of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), where he supervised the construction of the PCN Head office.

He piloted the production of the first-ever FCT Essential Medicines List and hospital-based production of simple preparations, such as branded hand sanitisers and other medicaments. He established the FCTA pharmaceutical care data research unit. He was also specially commended by the Health & Human Services Secretariat as the head of Abuja Central Medical Stores, for ensuring a smooth supply chain & logistics of drugs and medical consumables to all FCTA health care facilities for years.

Elelu, who has been a resource person at numerous health workshops, has been honoured with a Distinguished Service Award by Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists and by three sets of FCTA intern pharmacists for leadership and mentorship of some 120 young pharmacists. He is a 2003 Fellow of the PSN.

He has served PSN in various committees and also in executive capacity as vice chairman, PSN, Abuja branch; chairman, PSN, Abuja branch; national vice chairman, NAHAP; assistant secretary, PSN Board of Fellows; pioneer patron, FCT AHAP, and unofficial member, PSN Board of Fellows.