The 21st set of fresh Pharmacy Graduands has been advised to break new ground by thinking out-of the box in their chosen career. They were also enjoined to embrace further learning in order to weather different socio-economic situations in the country and world over. These words of admonition came from different speakers when the fresh graduands were inducted into the Pharmacy profession by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Tuesday, 29th June, 2021. The induction activities, which included the Oath-taking by the graduands were led by the PCN Registrar , Pharmacist N. A. E. Mohammed, who was represented by Pharmacist Yejide Oseni at a ceremony held in the Faculty of Pharmacy Auditorium in Sagamu.
In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, congratulated the graduands and advised them to be worthy ambassadors of this great institution. Olatunde, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, Prof. Deji Agboola, emphasised the need for the fresh graduands to blaze the trail in new discoveries and innovative ideas within and outside their professional practice. He reassured the inductees that the University had prepared them to excel in all that they might encounter in the outside world while meeting the demands and challenges of 21st century, as prosperous graduates.
The University helmsman said, “Today, you will all be formally inducted into the Pharmacy profession and it is my hope that like your predecessors who have continued to do the University proud, each of you will strive to maintain the honour of this great institution by making formidable impacts through this noble profession. I, therefore, charge you to always be good ambassadors of this great University and keep the flag flying”, he added.
“It is important to inform you that this is not the end of learning or studying process; whatever path you choose to take hereafter, as long as you practise Pharmacy, it is a lifelong path of dedication to the wellbeing of your patients, for which you must continue to study, learn and break new grounds in your profession,” Prof Olatunde added.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Acting Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluyemisi Bamiro, who thanked the Vice-Chancellor for his supportive roles to the Faculty at all times, also acknowledged the sacrifices of the PCN Registrar in making the event a reality. She, therefore, profoundly thanked the Guest Lecturer and other dignitaries in attendance for honouring the invitation.
While acknowledging the enviable contributions of the foundation Dean of the Faculty, Prof. (Mrs.) M. N. Femi-Oyewo, the acting Dean congratulated the graduands on the joyous occasion and admonished them to make determination, discipline and diligence their watch words towards breaking new ground in their chosen career. According to her, “a man that is diligent and skilful in his business will stand before king and not before obscure men”.
In his presentation entitled “Pharmacy Practice in a Distressed Economy,” the Guest Lecturer, Pharm. (Rev.) Rotimi Ogunbande, emphasised the need for the inductees to be well acquainted with the happenings in their would-be business environment so that they may prepare themselves for the great challenges ahead. “Being a pharmacist is not the end to all things. We must be interested in what goes on around us – economy, politics, sports, and what to do to help in the uplifting of the people around you and the nation in general,” Ogunbande added.
While stressing that the main feature of a distressed economy is decline in Gross Domestic Products i. e the total value of all goods and services produced in an economy, the Guest Lecturer highlighted the effects of this economic phenomenon to include unemployment, poverty, and insecurity that are overtly prevalent in the society. He, thereafter, noted that the antidotes to this ill plaguing the society today included diligence, discipline, being morally upright, sharpening one’s skills, following after one’s passion, and above all, being innovative by thinking out of the box.
These, he said, would be of immense benefits in both emerging and traditional fields of professional practice in Pharmacy that included Hospital and Administrative Pharmacy, Community Pharmacy, Academic Pharmacy and Industrial Pharmacy as well as other Pharmacy services like Pharmanews and Support services like the Pharmacy Alliance and Pharmaceutical Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
In his speech, as the PCN Registrar, Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed, reiterated the significance of the induction ceremony. He described it as an event adopted by the regulatory body of pharmacy profession in Nigeria, to formally admit fresh Pharmacy graduates from Nigerian Universities into the Pharmacy profession having been taken through some induction activities like Oath taking, Lectures and words of admonition.
While also congratulating the graduands, parents, guardians, and the entire University Community, Pharm. Mohammed enjoined the celebrants to prioritise strict adherence to the Code of Professional Ethics which prescribes the professional and moral responsibilities to the patients, pharmacists colleagues, other health professionals, their employers and the general public.
“The Council frowns at professional misconduct in its entirety, hence strict adherence to the code of ethics is indispensable in the conduct of any Pharmacist in any field of human endeavour. It would greatly assist you to be the best you could to yourself in particular and to humanity in general” the Registrar stressed.
Highlights of the event included the administration of Oaths on the 21st set of 76 OOU Pharmacy graduands by the PCN Registrar and the presentation of PCN Prize to the Overall Best Graduating Student, Mr. Sanyaolu Saheed Ekundayo, who distinguished himself among his colleagues, including other 18 First Class graduands, with a cumulative GPA of 4.84.
Apart from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Deji Agboola, who represented the Vice-Chancellor at the event, other dignitaries included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. C. O. Adekoya, University Registrar, Mr. Femi Ogunwomoju, University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole, and the Bursar, Mr. Semiu Makinde, FCA.
