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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.
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•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.
