By Chioma Umeha
History
was made weekend as past presidents of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria
(PSN) and Pharmacist Ahmed Yakasai, the incumbent president of the society were
inducted members of the new Pharmacy Advisory Board(PAB) with Pharm. (Prince)
Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, as its Chairman.
It
was a day of double celebration for members of PSN as they fêted Pharm. (Chief)
Olu Akinkugbe, renowned pharmacist, its former President between 1972 and
1974, who clocked 89 years and emerged a member of PAB on the day of inauguration.
In
his remarks, at the inauguration at Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, Pharm. Yakasai, said
that the Pharmacy Advisory Board shall be the apex conflict resolution platform
and final arbiter in organised pharmacy.
He
said; “It will also serve to advice the President on matters of national
importance referred to it by the incumbent President.”
Responding,
Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi, who was PSN President, from 1988 to1991, accepted the
responsibility, promising to give quality advice to the President to make his
work light.
Others
on the board of PAB, Yakasai said are; Pharm. (Dr.) Philip Emafo,
Vice-chairman; and Pharm. (Sir) Anthony Akhimien, Secretary and
Pharm. (Chief) Ayo Fassanmi.
The
rest are Pharm. (Prof.) Ebenezer O. Ogunlana,
Pharm. (Senator) Eme U. Ukaette, Pharm. (Alhaji) Mohammed Yaro Budah, Pharm.
(Dr.) Uzor N.O. Uwaga, Pharm. Azubike Okwor, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, Pharm.
Ahmed I. Yakasai, and Pharm. (Barr.) Chiedu O. Mordi.
According to him, PAB is
charged with the responsibility of handling conflicts among pharmacists
inclined regulatory agency Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN) National
Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and National Drug
Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Others are the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development
(NIPRD) and the various sectoral bodies in the practice Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) and Association
of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria (APIN).
The
rest are Nigerian Representatives of Overseas Pharmaceutical Manufacturers
(NIROPHARM), Association of Community Pharmacist in Nigeria(ACPN) Association
of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacist in Nigeria (AHAPN) industrial and
academic pharmacists.
It
strikes a balance in the interest among them.
