Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Inducts 156 UNN Pharmacy Graduates


The Ag. Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. (Mrs) Gloria O. Abumere has urged the 156 inductees to go out and help halt the declining trend in the health indices in Nigeria. This call was made during the Induction and Oath taking ceremony of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, at the Princess Alexandra Auditorium and Unity Hall, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

UNN

“I enjoin you to be good team players with other healthcare professionals in the best interest and benefit of the patients and the society at large. Set good examples of moral behavior in your profession, home and social life and use your knowledge and skills for the advancement of the Country, especially through the promotion of healthcare delivery services of the nation”, she said.

She disclosed that the purpose of the ceremony was to administer the oath and admit the graduands formally into PCN without which they cannot exercise their legal rights as practitioners.

Pharm. Abumere said that as the future of the Pharmacy profession, they are meant to help patients achieve and maintain good health by optimizing the use of prescribed medications. She added that strict compliance to the code of ethics is indispensible for the practice of the Pharmacy profession.

In his own speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bartho N. Okolo who was represented by the Director, Academic Planning, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth E. Ichoku, “Pharmacy practice is an essential component of healthcare delivery system of any nation and by extension national economic development”.

Prof. Okolo advised the Pharmacy graduates to realize from the onset, the integral role they are expected to play in national development, and therefore commit themselves to achieving such feat.

Meanwhile, the Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prof. Vincent C. Okore thanked the Vice-Chancellor for the unprecedented level of transformation that is taking place in the university especially in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences.

He also commended the academic staff of the Faculty who had distinguished themselves in the establishment of external linkages for research and scholarship, thereby attracting local, national and international recognition, stating that this had added to the image and rating of the University and Faculty. Finally, he counseled the inductees to practise the profession with decorum.

The Keynote Speaker, Rev. Fr. Samson E. Asadu in his speech titled “Identifying with the spirit of Success” said that, “success is continual. It is not an event that has come and gone but an on-going process and the positive results of steady forward movement”.

Rev. Fr. Asadu enumerated some nuggets of success such as having a vision/plan, acting and not just planning. Others included the ability to cultivate the “you can spirit”, overcoming the enemy called average as well as developing the habit of regular reflection.

He reinstated that in order to adhere to these nuggets, it was paramount to note that talent was necessary but talent alone was not enough. Hence, there was need to develop that talent. He observed that what made the difference between successful and unsuccessful people was the effectiveness with which the former gave a little extra and went beyond the status quo”.

He admonished the graduands to see problems as a challenge to be more effective and also embrace prayer as an important tool in achieving success.

Also, the Chairman of the occasion, the CEO/MD Juhel Pharmaceutical, Dr. Ifeanyi Eric Okoye, OFR, FPSN who was represented by Pharm. (Mrs) Loretta Uche urged the graduands to be cautious in their profession. “Be the best you can be in the profession you find yourself”.

However, Mr. Anosike, Chibueze who emerged as the overall best graduating student for the 2011/2012 academic year having scored 16 distinctions out of 22 courses said “I feel very happy having actualized my dream of being the best graduating student”. He attributed the secret of his success to hardwork and dedication.