Pharm. Uche Nwana, managing director of Sylken Pharmacy, has swelled the rank of eminent pharmacists on the fellowship list of Professional Excellence Foundation of Nigeria (PEFON).
Other pharmacy professionals in the foundation are Dr. (Mrs) Stella Okoli, chairman, Emzor Pharmaceuticals; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, managing director of Juli Plc; Dr. Nelson Uwaga, former PSN president and president of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM); Pharm Nnamdi Okafor, managing director of May & Baker; Pharm. Lekan Asuni, managing director of Lafas Pharmaceuticals Limited; Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, Juli Plc; Sir Ike Onyechi, managing director of Alpha Pharmacy; Dr Michael Oyebanjo Paul, chairman, Mopson Pharmaceuticals Limited and Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, PSN president.
Speaking at the induction ceremony that witnessed decoration of 17 other professionals at Victoria Palace Hotel, Victoria Island on February 23, 2017, Nwana expressed appreciation for his recognition, adding that he did not see it coming.
“I want to use this opportunity to thank PEFON, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi and, especially, Sir Atueyi whom I still regard as a role model. He is somebody I can say started with nothing.
“While many of us concentrated on drugs importation and marketing, he opted for pharmaceutical journalism. It is therefore not surprising to see the success of the publication and how far he (Atueyi) has come,” he enthused.
On his advice to the foundation, Nwana, who started his career with Nigeria German Chemicals Plc., directed PEFON to focus on youths with a view to changing their mindset.
“It is however sad that when today’s graduates are asked what they hope to do after school, you are bound to hear things like ‘Oh! I want to make money.’ This kind of mindset is indeed not good for our future. This is one major I will like the foundation to look into,” he stressed.
Addressing the members, Sir (Dr) ‘Dipo Bailey, founder of the foundation explained that PEFON is a professional foundation aimed at encouraging and empowering youths in the country.
“To be a member, such professional must be a man of integrity. Many are termed successful today, not because of money but their integrity. Today, we also celebrate our ladies for their feat as first lady presidents in their chosen career.
“Let me use this opportunity to appreciate my brother, Prince Julius. There are men and there are men. He has been the moving spirit behind the survival of PEFON to date. I don’t know what the foundation would have become of the foundation without him,” he said.
The induction and investiture ceremony of the 18 recipients were conducted in two sessions. The first category saw nine professional first ladies presidents of institutes and chosen careers sworn in as honorary Fellows while the second witnessed the induction of another nine (male) professionals.
While taking the oath-taking, the inductees promised to abide by the rule of the foundation.
The category of honorary fellows comprised Barr. Juliet Madubueze, 1st lady president of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN); Mrs Osaretin Demuren, 1st lady director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); Rear Admiral Itunu Hotonu, 1st Lady Rear Admiral in Nigerian Navy; Chief (Mrs) Adenike Oyagbola, 1st lady cabinet minister in Nigeria; Engr. Ebele Okeke, 1st lady civil engineer & 1st lady head of service of the federation; Mrs Catherine George, 1st lady town planner in Nigeria; Engr. (Dr) Olatokunbo Somolu, 1st lady to hold Ph.D in Engineering and 1st lady structural engineer; Chief (Mrs) Olutoyin Olakunri, 1st Chartered Accountant in West Africa and Mrs Oluseyi Ifaturoti, living female legend of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN).
The second category included Pharm. Uche Nwana, managing director of Sylken Pharmacy; Chief Bayo Ojo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN); Asiwaju (Dr) Michael Olawale-Cole, former Lagos State commissioner for works and transport; Capt. Dele Ore, former chief pilot and director of flight operations in Nigeria Airways; Bode Adeaga, ex president of Nigerian Institute of Surveyors; Hajiya (Chief) Maryam Ibrahim, former president, Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN); Chief Francis Ogboro, president, Nigeria-Saudi Chamber of Commerce; Dr Harold Demuren, former chief executive officer of Afrijet Airlines and Adebayo Oyagbola, member of Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the International Bar Association.
Urging the newly inducted fellows to live up to expectation, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, chairman, PEFON, declared that the foundation takes it time looking for professionals with enviable track record.
“Much as we have so many bad people in the society, there are equal measures of good people in the society, especially young ones. They are the people that PEFON hopes to bring on board.
“Money can buy you anything; it cannot buy you happiness and a good sleep. I salute the enterprising spirit of Dr Bailey (founder) who ordinarily shouldn’t be here because of his health. However his passion for success of the foundation was what brought him,” he emphasised.
Adelusi-Adeluyi, a past president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), did not also fail to reassure the new inductees that given the track record of PEFON they were in good company.
In his vote of thanks, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, vice chairman, PEFON board of trustees, lauded Adelusi-Adeluyi for continuing to encourage the PEFON fellowship through his exemplary leadership style.
“In fact, he qualifies to be called a professional chairman. When you attend an event and he is the chairman, you feel at rest. Even when things are not going right, he has the gift to take people’s attention away,” he remarked.
