The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in its usual collaborative move with MDA’s, Institutions and Organizations alike felicitated with the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) on the launch of the Association’s Almanac.
The Director General and Chief Executive, Mallam Farouk Salim an Alumnus of the University, who graduated from the Pharmacy Department was present as the Special Guest of Honour.
Mallam Salim while addressing participants at the event acknowledged the WAZOBIA connection i.e. Prof Olobayo Kunle (Yoruba extraction), himself, Mallam Farouk Salim (Hausa) and Chief Emeka Duru of Igbo extraction all formed during their days back at ABU Zaria.
Executive Members of The High Table
He said that their relationship remained solid till this day and tasked the contemporary Pharmacists to desists from segregation that resorts to religious fanatism but rather the one that will bring solidarity and unity amongst them.
The DG stated that any association built on the grounds of morals and psychological support will foster unity and create a friendly environment.
The SON’s helmsman stated that the Pharmaceutical sector can boast of trillions of Naira that would spur growth and contribute to the industry and economy of the Nation, especially in this period that the country’s economy is recessed.
He urged the Association to expand their horizons by identifying possible gaps in the department for immediate solutions rather than narrowing their obligations to studies alone.
In his presentation titled “Advent of PharmD in Nigeria, The Fate of The Pharma Industries” Prof Ahmed Tijjani Mora who was the Chairman of the Occasion acknowledged that the Council is challenged by the growing demand for Pharmacist to meet the growing population due to political upheaval, mismanagement of funds and climate change that have negative effect on humans, thus governed by rules and ethical codes that should at all times be strictly adhered to in other to raise the bar.
Cross Section of Pharmaceutical Sciences Lecturers At The Front Row & PANS ABU Zaria Chapter
He charged the Pharmacy department to be resilientt and portray a sense of patriotism given the utmost backing of the Vice Chancellor to the department.
Also making a presentation was the Chief of Staff to the DG SON, Prof Olobayo Kunle with his paper titled, “Growth of Pharmacy Profession Through Participation in Politics”, Prof. Kunle mentioned that pharmacists inter-phased with people daily putting the figure at an average of 25% in whatever location they serve.
He maintained that a number of Pharmacists have expressed desires to become more involved in today’s politics by becoming compensated for patient counselling as well as providing traditional medical services in advisory capacity.
However, he affirmed that political advocacy has never been a major part of Pharmacists practice or viewed as necessary, but rather suggested to colleagues that even though they could become successful in politics but never to disconnect from the profession.
Other presenters include; Pharmacist Ibrahim Baba Shehu Ahmed the Registrar, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria who made his presentation titled “Curtailing drug markets saturated by non-professionals,” and also Dr H. U. Ma’aji HoD, Clinical & Practice Pharmacy) ABU Zaria, whose paper was titled “The Practice of Clinical Pharmacy in Community Pharmacy”.
The event ended with the launch of the PANS Almanac by DG SON and other invited Guests where the DG urged the Association to collaborate with SON by promoting the Organisation and its activities.
