By Chioma Umeha
Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, President of Pharmaceutical Society of
Nigeria (PSN), has commended Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, Managing Director, Pharmanews
Limited, and his media team for their commitment and dedication to their
duties.
Yakasai made the commendation when he led the PSN executive
on a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the Pharmanews Limited, Lagos,
recently.
He said that besides the managing director of the media
outfit, he was privileged to come across Pharmanews reporters, adding that
whether health or pharmaceutical event, they were always there and timely too.
He lauded them for the professionalism they bring to bear in
their work saying, “At a point, many people think all your reporters are
pharmacists because of their in-depth analyses and active participation at such
event.”
Sir Atueyi, who appreciated Pharm. Yakasai for the visit
praised him for what he described as his commitment to the cause of pharmacy
and pharmacists in the country.
Sir Atueyi said Pharm. Yakasai won his admiration for his
concern for the elders of the profession as demonstrated two years ago when he
granted free hotel accommodation to elders aged 75 years and above attending
the PSN conferences.
He also lauded the PSN president especially for his
reconciliatory moves that had made hitherto aggrieved bodies to close ranks and
drop litigation cases against the society.
He recalled that Pharm. Yakasai had successfully resolved
the longstanding conflict between doctors and other healthcare practitioners by
consistently preaching inter-professional collaboration.
Atueyi said he was fortunate to be nominated by Yakasai to
chair one of such inter-professional collaboration committees last year adding
that he restored peace among warring pharmacists in Anambra chapter of the PSN.
Atueyi also extolled Pharm. Yakasai’s virtues as
bridge-builder and non-tribal Nigerian, adding that it does not matter to him
if you are Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa.
He noted that Yakasai was the second PSN President to visit
Pharmanews Limited, the first being Pharm. Yaro Budah in September 2001.
He said it was a coincidence that the two are the only two
Northerners so far to serve as PSN Presidents.
On his part, Yusuff Moshood, Editor of Pharmanews, revealed
that many have criticised his editorial judgment on why Yakasai kept making the
front page of his publication but that in journalism, personalities make the
news.
“The truth remains that Yakasai is somebody that is always
making things happen and you cannot ignore such a character,” he said.
Moshood said that since he joined Pharmanews, he had never
seen a PSN president who had made so much news like Yakasai.
The highlight of the courtesy visit was the presentation of
an award to Yakasai by Lady Joan Atueyi, wife of the publisher of Pharmanews
for his unflinching support to the media house.
