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| L-R: Pharm. Elijah Mohammed, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN); Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy and Calixthus Okoruwa, Chief Executive Officer, XLR8, at the investiture of new fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy which held at the Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Lagos. |
•Inducts Six New Fellows
By Chioma Umeha
To
tackle inadequate funding, lack of constant power supply and non- availability
of reagents which have been identified as Fellows2challenges for Research and
Development (R&D) in Nigeria, the Federal Government has been tasked to
increase its commitment in the area.
Specifically,
Professor Isa Marte Hussaini, a world-renowned cancer researcher and professor
of pharmacology at the University of Maiduguri has called for greater
commitment on the part of the government to the funding of research in the
country.
Professor
Hussaini said this while delivering his keynote presentation at the investiture
of six professionals as fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy,
weekend.
The
celebrated researcher lamented: “Inadequate funding is still a big challenge
for Research and Development in Nigeria, as well as lack of constant power
supply and non- availability of reagents which we have to buy from US and UK.
“We
need more research grants in our country; it is not about the personnel but the
tools to work with. All over the world, there are Nigerians who have
distinguished themselves in the field of medicine,” Hussaini stressed.
Prof.
Hussaini whose cancer research is exploring the use of local herbs in cancer
therapy reminded the audience that “cancer is the second leading cause of death
globally, the first being cardiovascular diseases with 8.2 million deaths
reported worldwide as at 2012.
“Sadly,
a lot of the research grants in Nigeria are focused on deaths arising from
preventable diseases like Malaria, TB when we should really be funding ground
breaking research on cancer. We have seen fruitful evidence of the use of local
herbs in the management of cancer in Nigeria.”
On
his part, President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai,
said the body was committed to making Nigeria the hub of pharmaceutical
production and research in Africa.
“Through
a well-tailored plan which we have broken down to short, medium and long-term
plan, we are looking to promote pharmaceutical manufacturing in Nigeria and
examining the possibilities of producing about 70 per cent of what the industry
needs especially the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients while importing the
remaining 30 per cent.”
Yakassai
also announced the establishment of the PSN Foundation which would be launched
in Abuja on October 17, while noting that the 90th celebration of the PSN
scheduled to hold in Umuahia would be a grand, epoch making occasion for all
pharmacists.
Commenting
on the newly inducted fellows, President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince
Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi noted, “Individuals we are today inducting into our
ranks are those with a strong passion for scientific research. These are tested
professionals who appreciate the value of research in fast-tracking the social and
economic progress of societies.”
He
described pharmacy as the bedrock of effective healthcare delivery in the
country and the most trusted healthcare provider as well as a driving force
behind the discovery of new drugs.
According
to Adelusi-Adeluyi, “Pharmacy is the key that unlocks all you need to know
about medicine, Pharmacists are with you in sickness and health, counseling the
patients and we serve with integrity. The Academy is exploring ways by which we
can collectively convert the massive footprint of visitors to hospital
pharmacies into real value for the profession and its practitioners.”
The
six distinguished professionals which the Academy inducted in Lagos are; Prof.
Karniyus Gamaniel, Director-General, Nigerian Institute for Pharmaceutical Research
and Development (NIPRD), Prof. Herbert Coker, former deputy provost, University
of Lagos(UNILAG); Dr. Ogori Taylor,one-time national pharmaceutical advisor,
World Health Organisation; Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, first African woman to bag
the fellowship of American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in
the US and Professor of Pharmaceutics; Dr. Teresa Pounds, Pharmacy Residency
Director, Mercer University College at Atlanta Medical Center and Calixthus
Okoruwa, communications management consultant and CEO XLR8.
The
Academy, which has been in the fore-front of educating, mentoring and
motivating young pharmacists in partnership with the PSN and other health
professionals, recently organised a workshop on inter-professional
collaboration in the country’s healthcare sector.
Eminent
persons who attended the event are; Pharm Elijah
Mohammed, the Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria; Senator (Prof.
)Olusola Adeyeye, Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District; Prof.
Fola Tayo, General Secretary of the Academy; Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, Vice
President; Pharm. Nnamdi Obi, Chairman, Association of Pharmaceutical Importers
of Nigeria (APIN); Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, former managing director, Neimeth
Pharmaceuticals, among others.
