– As PCN Inducts 101 OAU Pharmacy Graduands with 23 Distinctions
The President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Prof. Cyril Usifoh, has charged new graduands of the Faculty of Pharmacy, Obafemi Awolowo University,(OAU) Ile-Ife, Osun State, on the need to abide by the ethics of the profession, irrespective of the high level of corruption in the society.
Usifoh, who bemoaned the infiltration of quacks into the profession, urged the graduands to distant themselves from all illegalities in the profession, while striving with all their efforts to uphold the ethics of the profession. He also expressed his delight in the number of the graduands, being a hundred and one, saying this will help a great in bridging the gap in pharmacy human resources.
He spoke at the recent induction ceremony of 101 OAU Pharmacy Graduands into the Pharmacy profession, by the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. N.A.E Mohammed, held at the historic Oduduwa Hall, of the institution.
The colourful occasion, which could not hold in 2021, due to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with other social disruptions which necessitated school closure, was organised under the chairmanship of the Vice-Chancellor , OAU, Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede and attracted the rank and file of the school management officers, high profile pharmacists both in academic and administrative positions, pharmacy students and their parents.
Represented by the PSN National Secretary at the induction, Pharm. Gbenga Falabi, the PSN President said: “We are happy to have you joined us. The gap in terms of number cannot be overemphasised, but we are happy that the gap is closing gradually, so we need more of this. I want to inform you that internship is the last lap of your training, so ensure you do it with seriousness and do it on time, without which you cannot practice,” he stressed.
Addressing the graduands and their relatives, Prof. Ogunbodede, charged them to be good ambassadors of the institution, adding that they should be found worthy in character and in the discharge of their responsibilities, adding that the Institution is looking up to them to make it proud and as well make the country proud.
The university don, while welcoming and congratulating parents and guardians of the inductees, as well as guests and well-wishers at the occasion, noted that the last induction ceremony of the Faculty was held in 2020, two years ago as it could not hold in 2021 due to the ravaging COVID-19, coupled with other social disruption necessitating school closure.
He continued: “This is my last induction exercise for this faculty as my tenure as the VC of this great institution ends in a few months’ time, so I feel privileged and honoured to witness this auspicious occasion and I must admit that this faculty has been the most peaceful since I assumed office as I have never had any reason to settle the dispute or heard of any administrative challenge in the faculty. I also want to salute one of our Elders, in the person of Prof. Adio Ogunbona, an emeritus professor and former deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Institution for his support and advice always,” he said
“I must also salute the courage of the Faculty of Pharmacy staff, led by the Dean, Prof. Olubunmi Afolabi, for the unrelenting efforts that have culminated in the success that we are celebrating today. I also commend the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), the Great Ife Pharmacy Alumni (GIPAA) and other stakeholders involved in training and supporting these inductees” said.
While presenting the 101 graduands for the oath-taking and induction ceremony, Prof. Afolabi, urged the inductees to be worthy ambassadors of the faculty as she urged them to join the Alumni Association, towards contributing to the development of the faculty and the university, adding that it is by no mean feat they have emerged as pharmacy graduates in the premier school of Pharmacy in Nigeria, saying they have worked hard to earn it.
Speaking further, Prof. Afolabi who was full of smiles charged the newly robed students to move with the trend in the pharmacy world, adding that they should join hands to push the boundary of what pharmacy can be to what it should be.
“You will realise that there are different routes of pharmacy practice, identify the route most suited to your career aspirations and seek to excel as a professional. We are counting on your generation to change the face of pharmacy in the 21st century, and just like the choice of appellation for your class ‘the class of Victors, Boomshakalaka’, the triumphant, the dominant, the joyous and the amazing, go and dazzle the world,” she said
She continued, “Education is a journey, not a destination. This University has equipped you with the necessary skills to practice your profession effectively but you need to hone these skills through life-long learning. The pharmacy profession is changing but don’t be afraid to move with the changes. We need you to join hands to push the pharmacy profession higher”.
Administering the oath, the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) Pharm. Mohammed, who was represented by Pharm. Yejide Oseni, director, South West Zonal office, PCN, urged the newly inducted pharmacists to abide by the ethics of the profession. He also advised them to develop leadership and interpersonal relationship skills, which he said were vital in Pharmacy practice.
The registrar further encouraged the graduands to shun all manners of practices that will tarnish their image and by extension, the image of the Pharmacy profession.
“I enjoined you all to take the one year Internship training very seriously as there may not be opportunities to make up for any time wasted. You have just completed the first phase of your training as a professional and are now fit to compete favourably with your colleagues in all areas of practice for service to humanity and also to God, as it may be of great interest to note that there are no limitations to where each of you can get to in life,” he advised.
The PCN boss while congratulating parents of the graduands for encouraging them to complete the first phase of pharmacy training, advised them to get acquainted with the code of professional ethics which prescribes their professional and moral responsibilities to the patients, colleagues, other health professionals, employers and the general public, among others, saying strict compliance to the code of ethics is indispensable for the practice of pharmacy profession.
He added, “Pharmacy is a noble profession that guarantees opportunities for new graduates to have a great prospect of practising in different fields such as Industries, communities, hospital, administration, research, academia, and in other human endeavours, such as Information Technology, Journalism, Publishing and indeed Governance,” he said.
The keynote speaker Pharm. Bolaji Akinboro, an alumnus of the faculty, and chairperson of the Vorian Corelli Corporation and co-Founder, Cellulant Corporation, implored the graduands to hit the ground running, while emphasising the need for them to change the narrative of the pharmacy profession, adding that pharmacy is not only about dispensing medications, but they need to demonstrate skills in medicine use in total health care; assisting the public make the connection between their health and relevance of pharmacy profession.
“I want you to endeavour to dream big because the extent of your recognition in the society depends on your purse, that is, your influence over money, your level of knowledge and the crowd you command. I also want you to see technology as an enabler, as it should be deployed as the propellant, accelerator and equalizer, so as you graduate from this school, may I encourage you to open your mind and see the power of PharmTech.
The high point of the event was the presentation of the PCN Prize to Nafisat Adeola Taiwo, the Best Graduating Student, the award of Board of Fellows Prize to Chaimaka Bose Ukpai, the student with the best overall marks in Part 4 and 5 courses in Pharmacognosy, and Medplus Academic and Leadership Awards to Michael Abayomi Olushola and Chidinma Jacinta Ezegamba.
Twenty-three students out of 101 that came out with distinction are as follows: Nafisat Adeola Taiwo; Odunayo Abraham Abiodun; Daniel Adedayo Adeniyi; Rukayat Adenike Adeniyi; Oluwafisayo Dorcas Adeyooye; Excel Erioluwa Adisa; Monsuru Abiola Afolabi; Oluwafisayomi Akintayo; Adedolapo Dorcas Alakinde; Brenda Alaso Asawo; Jessica Morolade Fajoyomi; Waheed Adeniyi Niniola; Chiamaka Ifenyiwa Okoroafor; Gloria Oluwaponmile Olaleye; Ifedolapo Olabisi Olayemi; Michael Ayobami Olushola; Oyinkansola Oshungboun; Opeyemi Success Oyekan; Aminat Opeyemi Oyetunde; Rodhiyat Abike Raheem; Abdulrasaq Ademola Sholanke; Onaopemipo Solomon and Chiamaka Bose Ukpai.
The colourful ceremony witnessed a massive turnout of participants, including the professors, faculty members, pharmacists in academia, students, parents as well as top PCN and PSN officials.
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