Pharmacists task graduating students on excellence

*As faculty celebrates 30 years of academic excellence

GRADUATING class of the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos has been urged to create and add value to the society, while upholding excellence, which the institution is known for and has imbued in them.

   These advises were given at the 2nd Annual Alumni Lecture for Graduating Students of the institution held at the main auditorium of the school in Akoka, Lagos State on Tuesday. 

   Present at the lecture were friends and some of the alumni of the institution making waves in the pharmaceutical industry among who are Chairman, Rodot Nigeria Limited and guest lecturer at the event, Pharm. Remi Adeseun, Director, Business School, Netherlands, Pharm. Lere Baale, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, HealthPlus, Pharm. Bukky George and Managing Director, Neimet Pharmaceutical Ltd, Pharm. Ernest Okafor.

   Delivering a lecture titled: “New Graduates as Agent for Transforming Pharmacy Practice”, Adeseun urged the graduands not to allow the negatives in life and society to pull them down, but to always find the positive in any situation and strive to be the best wherever they find themselves while also surmounting obstacles that may come their ways.

   He urged them to dream high and aspire for greatness reminding them that they (successful alumni present) were at a time at the stage they are today but are where they are now because of dreams made real through hard work.

   He said: “The first thing I will like to let you know is that, you are to be emboldened and empowered by your history but never be enslaved by it. You are graduating as Pharmacists and the Nation, nay the World, needs you to research, develop, produce, market and manage the drug needs of the people. the skill sets you have acquired in the course of your training can also be deployed to create and share value in other fields. From telecommunication sales and marketing, to retail banking and management education services.

  “You however owe it to the investment that has been made in turning you to men and women of honour, to join hands with others within the pharmacy sector and indeed, the entire health sector, to ensure that people have improved access to good quality drugs and related health commodities in a way that leads to improved health outcomes.

   “I want you to remember always that life is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the trip. In all that you do, make it your mantra to create value and share. Ceaselessly!

   “Challenges will come your way in trying to be the best you can in your chosen field. The challenges will come disguised in the form of ‘best practice’, ‘standard policy’ and other ‘don’t even go there’ phrases. Brickwalls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want to change something, to transform from good to great.

   “Always remember, you have it in you to be the best that you can be. Don’t get put down by negatives. Turn life’s obstacles into opportunities. Your destiny is in your hands, you are in God’s hands. No one else can determine your destiny. Always strive for better.  We sat where you are sitting now almost 30 years ago with hopes and aspirations in our hearts. You can achieve as we have and do even much more than we have done. Dream, and in High Definition too, Dream. Dream Big, Accept Big dreams.

   Meanwhile, the Faculty Dean, Professor Olukemi Odukoya who revealed that the Faculty which was invented as a School in the College of Medicine of the institution in 1980 and officially recognized by the pharmacy Board, now Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to award degree in 1984 has over these 30 years of its existence offered pharmaceutical excellence for the development of the nation.

   Stating that the faculty has dared dreaming big dreams, she noted that the faculty has produced manpower in the different facets of the nation’s economy and industrial growth.  According to her, “in just three decades, we have established a reputation of excellence at the highest leve. The faculty academic staffs and researchers have lived up to their bill by winning numerous academic laurels. The faculty is also ranked among the top in pharmacy in the nation.

   “In keeping with University of Lagos mission, the faculty is dedicated to excellence in pharmacy research and service.