UNILORIN VC tasks new Pharmacy graduates on local drugs development 

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Suleiman Age Abdulkareem, has charged the newly inducted students of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, to concentrate on the development of new indigenous drugs for critical ailments to make access to various therapeutic alternatives easy and affordable.

The VC stated this yesterday at the 4th Induction and Oath Taking Ceremony of 29 new graduates of the Faculty, which held at the University Auditorium.

The Vice-Chancellor, who pleaded with the inductees to regularly update their knowledge and skills in order to keep up with the current trends in issues relating to drug therapy management, declared that “in spite of our confidence on the quality of training we have given you, I need to let you know that your profession requires you to embark on a life-long learning process in order to sustain your excellence and success”.

The Keynote Speaker on the occasion, Pharm Olugbenga Falabi, in his lecture, titled “Successful Transition into the Pharmacist”, said that the inductees have been equipped with a lot of knowledge of drugs and its administration, which is the main reason they are being inducted into the Pharmacists Society of Nigeria (PSN).

Pharm Falabi explained that the profession is a result-oriented one, adding that the students are being trained to be patient-oriented.

In his address, the Ag Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr Isaac Olusola Aremu, appreciated everyone who attended the induction ceremony as he expressed his pleasure in the continuous growth of the Faculty both in terms of physical infrastructure and qualified academic and non-academic staff.

Aremu commended the University Senate for approving the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) curriculum as well as the curricula for postgraduate programmes in four Departments in the Faculty.

The Ag Dean however acknowledged the contributions of past Deans of the Faculty, saying that he is only building on the foundation laid by the great men and women who have served the Faculty and University in the past. He prayed for the continued peaceful repose of one of the past Deans, the late Prof Abdulkarim Agunu.

In his remarks, the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm Elijah Mohammed, represented by Dr Anthony Idoko, congratulated the inductees, who are in the first phase of their career and the University community on the induction of the 29 graduands. He advised the graduands to be prepared for the second phase of their career, which is the one-year internship.

Pharm Mohammed added that the University of Ilorin is the second University given approval by the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria to run the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) programme, appreciating the effort of the Vice Chancellor in making this a reality.

 AbdulGaniy Yusuf, who emerged the best graduating student, carted away four prizes, which included the Pharmacist Council of Nigeria (PCN) Registrar’s Prize, the Pharmacist Society of Nigeria (PSN) Kwara State Branch Prize, Prof Abdulkarim Agunu Memorial Prize for the Best Graduating Student and Fellows of the West African Post graduate College of Pharmacist, Kwara/Kogi Chapter Prize.

Alaran Aishat Jumoke who won the Okpaleke Foundation Award for the Best Graduating Student in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice also won the LUBCON Award for the Best Graduating Student in Pharmacy Management.

In the category of the Departmental Best Graduating Students, Raimat Oluwatomi Odunola emerged the best student in Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice while AbdulGaniy Yusuf was the best student in the Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry as well as the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.

 Lawal Azeemat Adeola emerged the best graduating student in the Departments of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy and Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, while Alaran Aishat Jumoke claimed the prize in the Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology.

The overall best graduating student, AbdulGaniy Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of the inductees thanked the Almighty God for his mercy and grace, which made it possible for them to complete their studies, therefore, wishing the students who could not graduate with them success in their  various endeavour.