The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, PCN, weekend, inducted 46 graduands of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, into the pharmacy profession.
While inducting the graduands at the ESUT permanent site Agbani, Enugu State, the Registrar of PCN, Ibrahim Ahmed, urged the graduands to always support the ideals and commitment of the Pharmacy profession.
He equally urged the graduands to perform their duties as pharmacists with devotion, dignity, discretion and honour.
The Registrar, PCN, who was represented by the Head of Department, Education and Training, PCN, Dr. Anthony Idoko, said Pharmacists competency is not only about knowledge and skills but should include critical thinking, innovation, social interaction, leadership development and inter professional relationships.
He stressed the need for Graduands to scale through their Pre-registration Examination for Pharmacists, PEP, after their internship to qualify for professional practice and warnedagainst ethical misconducts noting that defaulters would face severe sanctions.
In his welcome address, the Vice Chancellor of ESUT, Professor Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, while congratulating the graduands, enjoined them to work hard to realise their goals in their chosen field of practice.
Prof. Okolie who was represented by ESUT Director of International Collaboration and Linkages, Professor Martin Anikwe, also urged the Graduands to be worthy ambassadors of the Institution by desisting from acts capable of tarnishing their images in the estimation of the right-thinking members of the society.
Also, in his address, the Dean, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ESUT, Professor Anthony Attamah, while congratulating the new Graduands, stated that they have worked hard to merit their graduation from the Faculty.
“I must state that your journey for greatness in Pharmacy profession has begun. Bear in mind that the road to success is always under construction. It requires absolute dedication and persistent hard work which you are already used to. Our best graduating student, Mr. Levi Onyebuchi Idokoja, deserves a special recognition for an all-round excellent performance. Congratulations!” the Dean also said.
In his keynote address, the Chairman, Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, Enugu State branch, Dr. Chidozie Okoye, while discussing the theme ‘ Pharmacy and Healthcare Delivery: Societal Perception and Need for More Awareness,’ said open drug market, proliferation of patent medicine vendors and inadequate training of pharmacy graduates from the universities are among the factors which contribute to negative perception of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
Dr. Okoye who was represented by the Enugu State chairman of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Festus Ejiekpe, equally said that pharmacists need to adapt to an ever-changing healthcare market, and expand their practices to meet the growing demand of healthcare in order to improve the perception of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.