PCN urges UNN fresh inductees to maintain high ethical standard

By Agency Report

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted fresh Pharmacy graduates of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) into the Pharmacy profession even as it urged them to make high ethical standards their watchword.

Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, the Registrar and the Chief Executives officer of the PCN gave the advice in Nsukka on Friday during the 48th Induction/Oath-Taking ceremony of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science of UNN.

He said that the Oath-Taking and Induction ceremony is one of the criteria required by the PCN Act 2022 before registration as a Pharmacist, stressing that the council frowns at professional misconduct in its entirety.

"As you take the Oath today and become inducted members of the pharmacy profession, I urge you to maintain high ethical standards and leadership qualities as prescribed by PCN.

"Endeavour to be worthy agents for the achievement of excellence in the provision of quality pharmaceutical services for sustainable health care delivery in Nigeria.

"The second phase of your pharmacy training starts with the one-year statutory internship programme which is compulsory for all pharmacists in Nigeria including those trained abroad.

"I wish to also inform you that you are expected to pass the Pre-registration Examination for Pharmacist (PEP) after internship to become eligible to practice in Nigeria," he said.

Speaking further, the Registrar who was represented by Dr. Anthony Idoko, Head of Education and Training, PCN, congratulated the inductees and said "PCN frowns at professional misconduct in its entirety, so you are advised to refrain from any act of misconduct as this will be treated with the seriousness it deserves.

In a Keynote address, Hon. Chika Ugwuoke, Commissioner, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Enugu State who spoke on the scope of Contemporary Pharmacy Practice in the 21st century; the roles, responsibilities, and functions of Pharmacist in the training curriculum said that pharmacists have moved beyond being mere dispensers of medication to major contributors to patients care, research, and development among others.

"As Pharmacists shift from traditional roles to more expanded and holistic engagement, your training curricula should evolve to emphasise the development of critical clinical skills, communication abilities, technical skills, entrepreneurial skills, and an understanding of social determinants of health.

"The modern pharmacist must be more socially connected, more politically aware, and ready to quickly adapt to the fast pace of technological advancement," he said.

In a remark, Prof Charles Igwe,  Vice-Chancellor of UNN congratulated the inductees and urged them to be good ambassadors of the university as well as maintain high moral and ethical standards.

Speaking, Prof. Ikechukwu Onyishi, Dean Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science, UNN charged the inductees to use the wealth of knowledge they acquired in the institution to explore and conquer the world.

"Dear graduates and inductees in today's ceremony, we celebrate you today and charge you to go out and conquer the world.

"Your parents and UNN have sowed the seed, go  and accomplish the great harvest, do not be satisfied too early.

"I urge all the inductees to be good ambassadors of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and UNN," he said.

The Dean commended the parents and guidance of the graduands for their sacrifices in investing in their children's education as well as expressed appreciation to all the guests, staff, and alumni members of the faculty for their contributions in making the 48th induction and oath-taking ceremony a success.

Earlier, Mr. Egbuna Udeorah, the Chairman of the occasion and the Deputy President South, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) said that the joint effort of the university administration, the alumni of the faculty at home and abroad have been yielding substantial fruits in uplifting the poor infrastructural status of the faculty.

He however appealed that the faculty is still in need of a coaster bus to support clinical rotation for clerkship and industrial visits, repair of the faculty building roof cap, mini class solar panels and batteries to support each class that will help class public address system and lights for exams and lectures, among others.

The faculty announced Ejiofor Victor as the Faculty Overall Best Graduating Student (Valedictorian), while Muoghara Mary-Precious was also announced as the Best Graduating Student in the Final Year by the Faculty Dean (Prof. Onyishi).