-As New EXCOs Emerge
It was a rain of commendations for the outgoing Chairman of the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs), Lagos State Chapter, Pharm. (Dr) Hafsat Adesina, and her executive team at the Biennial General Meeting (BGM) of the association last Thursday, as they presented the stewardship of their four-year tenure
The BGM also witnessed the election of new executives, with Pharm. Yewande Olorunsola emerging as the new chairman and Pharm. Olubunmi Laja as vice-chairman.
Other members of the newly elected executive are: Pharm Omolara Ebitigha, secretary; Pharm Mutiah Yaqub, treasurer; Pharm. Dr. Oluwayemisi Chukwu-Uro, publicity secretary, Pharm. Winifred Ogwu, asst. publicity secretary; Pharm (Dr) Seliatu Ohimor, editor; Pharm Adenike Mayungbe, financial secretary; Pharm. Bolanle Toki, welfare officer; Pharm Gbemisola Ajani, assistant secretary; Pharm Temitope Akinboro, assistant welfare officer; Pharm Ayodele Ogunlade, unofficio; Pharm. Foluke Akinniranye, unofficio; and Pharm. (Dr) Afusat Adesina, immediate past chairman.
First among those who praised the achievements of the group under Adesina’s leadership was the Chairman, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Lagos State Chapter, and Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle. He described their outreaches as top-notch, with far-reaching impacts on members’ professional growth and community development.
“On the occasion of your Biennial General Meeting, on behalf of the entire Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Lagos Branch, I commend ALPs for its unwavering commitment to advancing the pharmaceutical profession and for its significant contributions to healthcare in Nigeria. Your dedication to mentorship, professional development, and community service is truly inspiring and serves as a beacon for all providers of crucial platforms,” Oyekunle stated.
Also applauding the performance of Adesina and her team, the National Chairman of ALPs, Pharm. Scholastica Lan, described the state chapter as the heartbeat of the national body and her primary constituency. She noted their instrumental role in several innovations and their far-reaching impact on the group and society.
She appreciated the outgoing EXCOs for their sacrificial service in organising diverse programmes aimed at uplifting the standards of the association and enhancing members’ professionalism.
“I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr Afusat Adesina and her team,” Lan said, “for such outstanding and meritorious service to the association. ALPs Lagos has continued to be a gold standard and an inspiration to us all. It feels good to be associated with this branch. I refer to them as my primary constituency that I hold dear to my heart,” she enthused.
The Immediate Past Chairman of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), Pharm. (Dr) Titilayi Onedo, also lauded the unwavering commitment of the outgoing EXCOs to creating lasting change in the association, while elevating its brand image. She described their enthusiasm in organising various programmes as unmatched, driven by a passion to redefine the image of pharmacy in society.
“Really, like others have said, when Mrs Modupe Ali was there, we thought we had seen it all. Then Dr Adesina and her team came, and we were involved from one programme to another. At a point in time, I was even asking some pharmacists, ‘Don’t you people rest at all?’ Every month, there must be something—some programmes must come up. Not only did they organise these programmes, but they also ensured the programmes were qualitative and impactful,” Onedo remarked.
The hospital pharmacist further commended the efforts of the outgoing EXCOs, noting that due to their relentless efforts in impacting communities, it would be hard to find any community in Lagos State where the roles of pharmacists are not recognised. ALPs, as a group, has become very popular. She prayed for them, saying, “After here, you will go places, and whatever you lay your hands upon shall excel and blossom, in the mighty name of Jesus. Your service to pharmacy is not ending here.”
Giving her stewardship report of the four-year tenure, Dr Hafsat Adesina, the outgoing chairman, appreciated all executive committee members, elders of the profession, and members for their unwavering support, mentorship, regular dues, and sacrifices that fueled the collective success of the group.
“I give all glory to Almighty God for the grace to serve in this leadership capacity for the full tenure of four years, as stipulated in our bylaws. The audacious strides we’ve taken would have been impossible without the dedication of a selfless and visionary executive team, members, and elders. Together, we have raised the bar.”
She highlighted milestone achievements of the association under her leadership, including: donation of cancer support funds to assist women undergoing chemotherapy- identified during cancer awareness programmes; building members’ soft skills through documentation committee training on PowerPoint and Excel—with certificates awarded; scholarship awards to six secondary school girls currently benefiting from the ALPs Lagos Scholarship Scheme; strategic collaborations with the Office of the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; partnership on the Lagos Boy Child Initiative; and active participation in the 2024 COWLSO Conference, among others.
She listed the committees whose activities led to these achievements, noting that all performed exceptionally. Their detailed activities are captured in the secretary’s report, she noted. The committees include: Cancer Awareness, ALPs Youth Mentoring, Adolescent Refill Club, Publicity, Capacity Building & Documentation, Renovation of ALPs Secretariat, Project 91, ALPs Lagos Scholarship Scheme, International Girl Child Day/Women’s Day, ALPs Philanthropic Outreach, and School Moral Campaign and Drug Abuse Education.
Additionally, Dr Adesina mentioned other achievements of the group, including the successful renovation of the ALPs Secretariat at the Pharmacy House, enhanced management of the association’s online presence across various digital platforms, and a very functional website and email system.
The newly elected chairman of the association, Pharm. (Mrs) Yewande Olorunsola, expressed her gratitude to the members for the confidence reposed in her and the new executives to lead the group into a new tenure. She assured them of sustaining the legacy of the outgoing EXCOs and going even further with divine enablement. “I want to assure all Alpians that there is room for improvement. We are open to new ideas, innovations, and collaborations. With divine wisdom, this new EXCO will take ALPs higher and higher—God helping us.”
The high point of the BGM was the presentation of a large portrait to one of the founding members of ALPs in Lagos State, Pharm. (Mrs) Ngozi Okoli, who recently celebrated her 76th birthday.
, Lagos State Chapter, Pharm. (Dr) Hafsat Adesina, and her executive team at th){kind=link}