-Presents Award Plaque, Cheque to him
It was an exhilarating and thrilling moment for Pharm. Daniel Uchechukwu Eze, winner, Pharmanews Young Pharmacist of the Year 2020, as the management of Pharmanews presented him an award plaque and a cheque of N100, 000.
The Pharmanews Young Pharmacist of the Year Online Contest was established in 2018, with Pharm. Isah Muhammad, emerging as the first winner, Frank Eze, the winner of the 2019 edition, and Daniel Eze, winner of the 2020 edition, recently concluded in December 2020.
Appreciating Eze for coming over for the ceremony despite the pandemic, Managing Director, Pharmanews Ltd., Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, expressed his great delight in meeting the winner for the first time, as well as praised him for emerging the winner of the contest.
His words: “I want to thank God for making this day possible. We all know how last year went and how it was not easy for everyone. I also want to thank the online department for initiating the concept and for their efforts in making the ceremony a reality.
“We started with the Young Pharmacist of the Year, then PANSite of the Year, and now we have Outstanding Pharmacist of the Year”, he stated.
Atueyi noted that in consonant with the vision of catching them young, Pharmanews established a long term relationship with young pharmacists, which has been sustained over the years. He also lauded them for their support to Pharmanews.
The Pharmanews boss said Nnamdi Azikwe University (Unizik) students are dominating the award as Frank Eze, emerged the winner of 2019 edition and now Daniel Eze, winning the 2020 edition, while commending them for their innovations.
He charged Eze as the latest ambassador of Pharmanews to be up and doing in the industry, while flying the flag of integrity. “If you say you are the winner of Pharmanews Award, people should respect you, they should not find you with questionable character. When people see you, they see Pharmanews, especially because your name will be published in Pharmanews as one of our ambassadors”, he stated.
The octogenarian also urged the winner to live up to expectations, noting that he doesn’t need to be old before he can add value to peoples’ lives. He also added that the event has connected him to pharmanews and automatically, he has become Pharmanews ambassador, representing the brand wherever he goes.
Presenting the award plaque to the winner, Lady Joan Atueyi, expressed her delight to present the award to him. She said people voted for him because they see the quality in him and Pharmanews will continue to be identified with him.
Praying for him, she said as the name ‘Eze’ in Igbo means king, “may you continue to reign as king wherever you go and may you be given more grace to do more in Jesus name, Amen”.
Receiving the award plaque and the cheque of N100, 000, an excited Eze promised not to disappoint the confidence reposed on him by his voters, and also not to let down Pharmanews expectations for him.
The winner pleged to project the image of the publication to all and sundry as this award will motivate him to do more to affect the pharmaceutical industry and will even take it as far as to the office of the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Health.
He narrated his amazement when he saw that he was nominated by his friends for his hard work and perseverance. He said he had to call some of his friends and some responded by saying “don’t you know you have been touching lives?”
Eze advised other young pharmacists thus: “Whatever you are doing, keep doing it even as a follower because people are watching. As an individual, I am not a front liner, I prefer doing my things silently and today it has finally paid”.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Editor, Pharmanews Ltd., Mr Patrick Iwelunmor, congratulated Eze, and urged him to do more for the industry as he hopes to see him breaking more grounds in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Pharmanews Online Editor, Mrs Temitope Obayendo, while felicitating with the winner tasked him as the new ambassador of Pharmanews to create better awareness of the brand in all nooks and crannies of Ebonyi State, where he resides, especially in the Ministry of Health, Pharmacy associations, and among other healthcare team members.
Other contestants who participated in the poll were: Ikwaibom Umoiyoho, 728 votes; Kenneth Bitrus David, 119 votes; Chuka Amukamara, 114 votes; Timothy Olusanya, 66 votes, while the eventual winner, Daniel Eze, had 1398 votes.
The first runner up and second runner up will be contacted in due time by the management for their consolation prizes.
My gratitude is profound to Pharmanews for initiating the Young Pharmacist of the Year Award- An award for young pharmacists who have impacted their communities significantly, based on public healthcare delivery, community development activities, and healthcare technological innovation, through various platforms.
I have just received my consolation prize for being the Second runner up in the competition. Thank you Pharmanews, may God bless you abundantly!
Kenneth Bitrus David
15th March, 2021