Chioma Umeha
History was made among the community pharmacists
recently, as the national body of the Association of Community Pharmacists
(ACPN) inaugurated its National Secretariat at Ikeja, Lagos State.
The event was graced by many notable personalities
in the pharmaceutical sector including, Pharm. Ahmed Yakasai, the president of
the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who commissioned the befitting
edifice.
Other notable guests at the event were – Dr. UNO
Uwaga, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees for ACPN; Pharm. Bukky George, the
Managing Director of Healthplus, among many former presidents of different
pharmaceutical bodies.
Pharm. Yakasai stated that it was a thing of joy
for him to see this development come to light.
He said that he is ‘a proud father’ as the
inauguration of the building was a “testimony of when you have a proud son who
can carry out directives.”
He described the secretariat as “A home for all
pharmacists across board.”
Pharm. Yakasai stated that the community
pharmacists is one of the strongest arms of the pharmaceutical profession, and
acknowledged the leadership of the great body – stating that it is a leadership
that is ready to make a difference and one that looks at posterity.
He congratulated the ACPN Chairman, Dr. Kelong
Alkali for building such a spacious place, and said that he has added value to
the pharmaceutical profession.
He further encouraged all other technical arms of
the pharmaceutical society to emulate the actions of the ACPN, as PSN is ready
to support and donate to any pharmaceutical arm that wishes to build their own
place.
Dr. Albert Kelong Alkali expressed his gratitude
to all members of the Association of Community Pharmacists, stating that it was
not an easy feat yet they were able to accomplish it.
He told journalists at the event that the
community pharmacists were made to contribute extra funds towards this project
and they did it wholeheartedly.
He further expressed his gratitude to the
pharmaceutical companies that partnered with them and donated towards the
project.
He went further to state that the secretariat is
going to make a huge impact for ACPN as it is indeed a big step and will serve
as an image maker for the association.
He also said that the new secretariat will “cut
down the cost of meetings” as the body will now hold its National Executive
Meetings in the secretariat which boasts of a large hall.
He also said that the new secretariat will give
the ACPN room to run their Drug Information Centre very well, and that the
space of the office will help the Association’s Secretariat run more efficiently.
