148 Unilag Graduands inducted by PCN

Koku Olusola Morayo

The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted 148 graduates from the 2019/2020 ccas the Registrar, Dr NAE Mohammed, led them in the oath taking ceremony.

Dr NAE Mohammed, Director, Lagos Zonal Office, who was represented by Dr Ukamaka Okafor, urged the graduates to take their internship earnestly, abiding by the ethics of the profession.

The registrar also charged them to be the best at what they do, stating that the pharmacy practice is collaborative in nature and if the right things are done differently they can excel.

“There is no limit to where you can get to.Take your internship programme seriously,because it may be the only opportunity you will have in that area of pharmacy practice. Be the best at quality assurance to comply with global best practices,”  He reiterated.

 The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos who  was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor on Academics and Research, Prof. Oluwole Familoni, urged the graduates to represent the university adequately. He advised the 17 graduates with distinction to continue to distinguish themselves wherever they went.

He equally showed appreciation to all lecturers for their effort toward national development in the education sector.

 “Lecturers in Nigeria are subsidizing the training of students. In other climes, people give to universities generously and that is why I want to implore good Nigerians, people that are doing well and philanthropists to support, not just the faculty of pharmacy, but also the entire university,”the VC said.

The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Margret Obono,who is also the Chairman of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists (WAPCP), Nigeria Chapter, charged the graduates to be innovative and confident anywhere they are.

Addressing the graduates before handing them over to the PCN registrar for induction, the Dean of the Faculty, Professor Aderonke Adepoju-Bello, urged them to not stop learning.

Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mrs Folashade Osho, who was the keynote speaker at the induction ceremony,which also doubled as the Faculty’s 8th Alumni lecture series, advised the graduates to continue  learning and be law-abiding by the government.

“New learning is important because knowledge is gradually becoming obsolete, so always update yourself. The faculty should also keep updating the curriculum regularly to meet current realities in the Pharmacy world,” she remarked.

Furthermore,she  stated that there are opportunities for pharmacists in the new normal, hence pharmacists have a big role to play.

“We pharmacists must position ourselves in alignment with the policy of the government and one of such areas is the local manufacturing of vaccines. Collaboration is also important. Let us shun professional rivalry with other professionals in the healthcare sector. Shake off hopelessness and helplessness, let us join hands together to build the Nigerian healthcare system,” she said.