The recent dinner reception organised in honour of the newly inaugurated Fellows of the Lagos State branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) became a rallying point for improved service to the society, as the new Fellows were urged to stop at nothing but all-round excellence.
The colourful occasion, which was also used to honour the immediate past president of the PSN, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo; Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Pharm. Uzamat Akinbile-Yusuf; and Commissioner III, Lagos State Health Service Commission, Pharm. (Otunba) Seun Osikoya, was held at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos.
Present at the dinner were the current PSN President, Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai; PCN Registrar, Pharm. N.A.E Mohammed; Pharm. Jimi Agbaje; Pharm. Ade Popoola, and other personages in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry.
Addressing the Fellows on a pep talk titled: “Excellence beyond fellowship”, Pharm. Popoola urged them to keep the honour bestowed on them by the PSN, by living up to the expectations of the Society, adding that fellowship is the beginning of service.
Noting that fellowship is an honour with attendant responsibility and accountability, Popoola discouraged the Fellows from toeing the lines of some others who reneged on their responsibilities, as soon as they were decorated with the fellowship of PSN.
The former PSN Board of Fellows chairman charged the Fellows to strive for distinction in professional ethics, practice and morality, stressing that engaging in unethical conduct is a direct assault on the profession.
“In any area of practice you are, distinguish yourself, and uphold the pharmacy slogan –‘as men of honour, we join hands’, more than ever before. Try as much as possible to distance yourself from the practice of R&G, which never promotes the tenets of the profession”, he charged.
Earlier on, chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Agbaje, had asked the new Fellows a rhetorical question: “After PSN fellowship, what next – is it just the title or the need to impact the society”? The question which was meant to spur the Fellows seemed to generate the expected impact, as the Fellows listened to him with rapt attention.
Agbaje commended the personality and courage of the PSN president, disclosing that he had for long known Pharm. Yakasai to be an active member of the PSN who is well grounded in all matters of the profession.
Appreciating all the guests in attendance, Pharm. Gbenga Olubowale, who was the host and also one of the new Fellows, said the gathering was to celebrate excellence, as most of the Fellows had distinguished themselves in their respective areas of service.
Describing Pharm. Akintayo, as a successful leader, who handed over the baton of leadership smoothly, Olubowale said posterity would always remember his good works and PSN Lagos would always give him their support.
He also expressed gratitude to the two Lagos commissioners in attendance, pledging the unalloyed allegiance of the PSN branch to them.
Olubowale further charged all the newly decorated Fellows to become part of the solution to the myriads of challenges of facing the country.
Responding to all the accolades showered on him, Akintayo said he felt fulfilled for bequeathing a well-grounded and dependable president, as well as a wonderful crop of Fellows to the society.
“It is a night of gratitude,” he said. “I am happy to be back home, and there is no gainsaying that the PSN leads and others follow. The immensity of the support of Lagos PSN has contributed greatly to my success.”
He urged the new president to always look inward into the profession and to harness the potentials of the practitioners for the maximum benefit of the society.
