-As Erhun canvasses insurance cover for future secretary general
Prof. Emeritus Kwame Sarpong, one of the founding fathers of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), has been elected as the new helmsman, along with other new executive members, to pilot the affairs of the college for the next two years.
The handing-over ceremony which took place at WAPCP secretariat in Yaba area of Lagos on May 2, 2017, has a considerable turnout of high profile pharmacists and academic professors.
In his hand-over note, Prof. Wilson Erhun, outgoing secretary general of the college, thanked God for sustaining him throughout his eight-year tenure that saw him fell victim thrice to armed robbery attacks.
Although Erhun claimed he didn’t sustain injuries, he nevertheless lost, among others, all the vital data he had gathered over a period of 30 years during one of such raids.
“I want to use this opportunity to appreciate members of the college and everybody who has worked with me in one way or the other. You have all done well! I also want to apologise to those I may have offended directly or indirectly in the course of doing my duty,” he noted.
While applauding the immediate past secretary general’s hand-over speech, Revd. Tijli Tarty Tyee, chief pharmacist of Liberia Ministry of Health and outgoing president of the college, said that he was happy with the level of progress WAPCP has made so far.
In his summation, the college was not always the way it looks now adding that a lot of improvements and some level of stability have gone into its foundation.
In what appeared to him as a big shock, the incoming president confessed to Pharmanews that heading the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists was the last thing on his mind before his election.
“As you already know, I am a foundation member of WAPCP which we started in 1976. In fact, I know the college inside out.I am equally aware of its inherent challenges because I was one of the people who drafted the constitution, curriculum and other things.
“Interestingly, I have also served in various capacity ranging from the
treasurer, secretary general… (you name it) except this one (presidency). In truth, I am supposed to be resting. But when my professional colleagues pleaded with me to occupy the office, I couldn’t turn it down because I regard it as a big honour,” he stressed.
Other members of the new WAPCP executives included Prof. Cecilia Igwilo, 1st Vice President; Markieu Janneh Kaira, 2nd Vice President; Prof. Noel Wannang, secretary general; Prof. Azuka Oparah, chairman, joint faculty board; Dr. Olufunsho Awodele, editor-in-chief, West African Journal of Pharmacy; Major Pharm. Thomas Tucker, deputy secretary; Joseph Weah, treasurer; Prof. (Mrs) Mbang Femi-Oyewo, chief examiner; Wilson Ukachi, admin manager and Wiltshere Johnson, chairman, finance and general purpose committee.
