Chioma Umeha
The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy has called for better, safer, more
convenient and affordable medicines as well as treatment regimens for diseases
that afflict humans, especially those that are endemic to African region.
Making the call during the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy
annual Investiture ceremony in Lagos was
Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy,
who stressed that the academy is committed to cheap innovative and effective
medicines and treatment.
Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi said, “The Academy of Pharmacy owes
society a duty to help unravel better, safer, more convenient and more
affordable medicines and treatment regimens for diseases that afflict mankind,
especially those that are endemic to our region of the world.”
A major high point of occasion was the presentation of a
‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ to Chief Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe for his huge
contribution to the growth of pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria while General
Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma received an Honorary Fellowship of the Nigeria
Academy of Pharmacy.
Commenting, Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi told DAILY INDEPENDENT,
“The bestowal of the award on Chief Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe is a token of
our appreciation of his enormous strides not only in the Pharmacy profession
but indeed in all other aspects of human endeavor.
“As he turns 90 in December, it is only fitting and proper
that his number one constituency, Pharmacy, kicks off the celebration of an
illustrious role model whose legacy of love, sacrifice and service would be
forever etched in our hearts and minds.”
“It is in the same vein that we induct General Theophilus
Yakubu Danjuma’s investiture as only the second ever Honorary Fellow of the
Academy. He remains one of the most passionate supporters of the Pharmacy
profession and a most generous benefactor of scientific research,” he added.
The climax of this year’s ceremony was the announcement of
the Academy’s Research and Innovation Center which is named after Chief
Oludolapo Akinkugbe.
According to the academy’s President, the centre was created
to give enduring impact to research and development in Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical
space.
He said, “It is for this reason that research is central to
our operations, one of the major reasons, indeed, that the Academy came to
being.We want to complement local and international efforts that support
scientific research and research activities.
“Much of the work we have done in this regard has been in
the area of advocacy, in engaging government and policy makers on the essence
of scientific research and why it is critical to provide better funding and
other moral support to scientific research focused institutions as well as
individual researchers.”
Professor Ernest Benson Izevbigie, a distinguished scientist
and former Vice Chancellor, Benson Idahosa University, in his keynote lecture
at the event titled, From Plant to Patient: Driving Research and Innovation for
Industry called for the translation of research findings into societal values.
Prof. Izevbigie whose ground-breaking work on the use of
bitter leaf, Vernonia Amygdalina in cancer and diabetes management has
commanded critical acclaim globally provided critical research insights into
how he has used bitter leaf in the management of breast cancer, prostate cancer
and cervical cancer with results better than western drugs.
General Danjuma who is also the Chairman of May and Baker
Nigeria Plc, donated N10 million to the Olu Akinkugbe Research and Innovation
Centre to support the advancement of research and development in the country.
The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy is a specialised academy
that among others, seeks to promote scientific research and professional
development, especially in the health, pharmaceutical and related sectors.
The goal is to help Nigerians overcome challenges posed by
pain and disease as well as fast-track social and economic development in
country and beyond.
The event had eminent personalities that included, Senator
Daisy Danjuma, Dr. Obi Peter Adigwe, the newly appointed Director General, National Institute for Pharmaceutical
Research and Development (NIPRD),
Chief Oba Otudeko, former chairman of First Bank Plc, Pharm. Jimi
Agbaje, Managing Director, JayKay Pharmacy among others.
