The 20th set of fresh Pharmacy Graduands of this institution was on Tuesday, 4th February, 2020 inducted into the Pharmacy Profession by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). The induction activities, which included the Oath taking by the graduands was done by the PCN Registrar – Pharmacist N. A. E. Mohammed ably represented by Pharmacist Y. Oseni at a ceremony held at OACHS Auditorium, Obafemi Awolowo College of Health Sciences, Sagamu Campus. Some State functionaries including the representatives of the Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, and the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, the Chairman, House Committee on Health, Hon. Adeyanju, were among the dignitaries that honoured the event, while other invited guests notably the NAFDAC Director-General who was also the Guest Speaker, Professor Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, FAS, also identified with this momentous occasion.
In his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ganiyu Olatunji Olatunde, congratulated the graduands on the successful completion of their programme and expressed delight in the success of the induction ceremony which according to him signified the results of hardwork and perseverance from the staff of the University. In his words, “I hereby congratulate the inductees of today for completing their studies as scheduled in spite of all the odds from within and outside the University environment.” He added that the pharmacy graduands must shun complacency in the course of their professional practice by continuing to break new grounds through learning, as the pharmacy degree “is not the end of learning process.”
While reassuring the inductees that the University had prepared them to excel in all they might encounter in the outside world, Prof Olatunde advised them to be worthy ambassadors of this great University, and keep identifying with their alma mater after their exit from the University. The Vice-Chancellor further congratulated the parents and guardians and enjoined them not to rest on their oars, especially, at this critical period when their wards are transiting into the more challenging world.
In his address as the Special Guest of Honour, the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR, who was represented at the occasion by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. A. A. Ayinde congratulated the graduands, the entire University Community, as well as the parents of the inductees for their different contributions at various times in making the induction ceremony a success story.
He, therefore, reiterated the State Government commitment towards revamping the critical sectors including health and education as exemplified in the prompt attention given to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu in terms of infrastructural development in the first few weeks the government came into office. He, thereafter, promised that the State Government would absorb some of the graduands into the Government State Hospitals for their internship.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Acting Dean of Faculty of Pharmacy, Dr. (Mrs.) Oluyemisi Bamiro expressed her deepest appreciation to all invited guests for honouring the Faculty’s invitation despite their busy schedules.
She was full of gratitude to the University Management under the leadership of Prof Ganiyu Olatunde whom she described as indefatigable Vice-Chancellor for his unending support whenever the need arises. Dr. (Mrs.) Bamiro further acknowledged with thanks the sacrifices of the Guest Speaker Prof Adeyeye, and the PCN Registrar, Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed for their significant roles at the event. Addressing the graduands, the Acting Dean committed them to the hands of God, while also enjoining them not to cut corners in the course of their profession, but “make righteousness, integrity, hardwork, and the fear of God the bedrock of their future endeavour and choices, which according to her, would advance them on their path to destiny.”
Delivering her induction lecture entitled “Professional Pharmacy Practice: Life After Graduation”, the Guest lecturer, Professor Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, an Emeritus Professor of Pharmacy disclosed that Pharmacy as a profession had evolved over time from being a transitional discipline between the health and chemical sciences to a profession charged with ensuring the safe use of medication. Unveiling the opportunities that abound in Pharmacy profession, Prof. Adeyeye noted that a field of professional practice in pharmacy that had attracted significant attention in recent years was the emerging pharmaceutical logistics and supply chain management. This, she said was part of the emerging trend in the pharmacy profession in addition to the traditional career opportunities that included industrial pharmacy, academic pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, community pharmacy, government pharmacy.
The NAFDAC Director General, further enjoined the fresh pharmacy graduands to equally explore some specialised areas in pharmacy practice including Nuclear Pharmacy, Nutritional Support Pharmacy, Oncology Pharmacy, Psychiatric Pharmacy, Forensic Pharmacy, Poison Pharmacy, Geriatric/ Paediatric Pharmacy among others. While stressing the need to acknowledge the challenges of transitioning to professional life usually felt by pharmacy graduates around the world, the Guest Speaker noted that fresh pharmacist must mentally accept his new role as a pharmacist, be prepared to fully embrace the responsibilities that come with it, visualize himself as an active part of the health care system, (or any pharmacy-related practice), always act in the best interest of the patient, society, and the country at large, and among others, utilize soft skills such as critical thinking and emotional intelligence.
In his speech as the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. N. A. E. Mohammed congratulated the entire University Community, parents, guardians, and the celebrants. He enjoined the graduands to acquaint themselves with the Code of Professional Ethics which prescribes the professional and moral responsibilities to the patients, pharmacists, other health professionals, their employers and the general public. This, he said would assist them to be the best they could to themselves in particular and to humanity in general. Pharmacist Mohammed added that strict adherence to the code of ethics was indispensable in the conduct of any Pharmacist in any field of human endeavour, warning that the Council frowns at professional misconduct in its entirety.
The highpoints of the event were the administration of Oaths to the 20th set of Sixty (60) OOU graduands by the PCN Registrar and the presentation of PCN Prize to Best Graduating Student, Ogunkoya, Babatunde Olamide who distinguished himself among his colleagues with a cumulative GPAof 4.63.
and Guest Speaker, Prof. Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye; Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gamiyu Olatunji Olatunde; and Rep. Registrar, PCN, Pharmacist Y. Oseni in a group photograph with the Inductees.
Other dignitaries at the event included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Deji Agboola, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. (Mrs.) Ebun Oduwole, University Registrar, Mr Femi Ogunwomoju, University Librarian, Dr. Adebambo Oduwole, and the Bursar, Mr Semiu Makinde ably represented by Mrs. Wunmi Rojaye.
