By BILIQIS ONAOLAPO OLAJUMOKE, ilorin .
A total of 89 pharmacists of the 2021/2022 set on Wednesday in Ilorin, graduated from the University of Ilorin, as 27 of them bagged distinction.
Speaking at the 8th Induction and Oath-taking Ceremony, Prof Wahab Egbewole, the Vice Chancellor of the university felicitated the graduands, while urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution wherever they find themselves.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by Prof Sulaiman Ambali, the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Management Services, emphasized the importance of pharmacy in healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
He described pharmacy as very unique in healthcare delivery system.
Egbewole advised the graduands to be diligent and uphold the professional ethics and value.
The VC therefore appealed to the necessary regulatory agencies and bodies to step up fight against fake drugs.
In her keynote presentation, Prof Margaret Afolabi, a Professor of Clinical Pharmacy Administration, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife enjoined the graduands to inculcate professional values.
According to her, the professional guiding ethics dictates that pharmacists must be disciplined, responsible, honest, respectable and diligent.
She advised them against indecent dressing, while emphasing the need to stand out by being modest.
“Don’t take advantage of your clients who are in vulnerable state. Integrity is a cornerstone of the profession.
“Hard work will take you far and places of high level. You must avoid error as much as possible and ask for clarification if you don’t understand handwritten prescription from medics,” she said.
The expert in pharmacy also admonished them to consult colleagues and senior colleagues.
Afolabi who observed that there is proliferation of fake drugs in the country, tasked them on trustworthiness and help the country overcome the challenge.
Also in his address, Mr Ibrahim Ahmed, the Registrar of Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) urged the graduands to maintain high ethical standards and discharge thier duties for a sustainable healthcare system in Nigeria.
Ahmed also enjoined them to take thier internship training seriously, adding that there is no limitation to thier practice as they can see themselves in hospitals, publishing and journalism as well as governance.
