INAUGURATION OF THE PSN PRESIDENT AND INVESTITURE CEREMONY OF 112 NEW FELLOWS OF PSN
Authors: Pharm. Oghenetega Onokpasa, Pharm. Werelo Lekpoan
On Thursday, the 10th of February, 2022 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, the inauguration ceremony of the new President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) as well as the investiture of newly appointed fellows of the society, was held in grand style. On the arrival of the PSN president, Pharm [Prof.] Cyril O. Usifoh, FPSN and his entourage to the venue, there was after a beautiful dance performance by the Edo cultural group.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the National Anthem. The second stanza of the national anthem was recited as the opening prayer. Present at the event were several notable dignitaries including the Honourable Minister of State for Health, who also was the Chief Host of the occasion, Senator Dr Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora, the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing and former Lagos state governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola [SAN], Minister of Mine and Steel, Mr Lekan Adegbite, representative of the Senate President, the Keynote Speaker in the person of Professor [Mrs] Lilian Salami, the second female Vice-Chancellor of the prestigious University of Benin, Registrar of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. N.A.E. Mohammed, Past Presidents of PSN; Chairman Board of Fellows, and several others.
The opening address was given by the Chairperson of the Presidential Inauguration and Investiture of Fellows Planning Committee, Pharm [Mrs] Joke Bakare, FPSN, FPCPHARM. Pharm [Mrs] Joke Bakare started by welcoming all the dignitaries and everyone present at the event. She went on to explain the reason for and importance of the occasion, stating that the event is held only once in three years. An occasion in which the best from the Pharmacy Profession are inducted as Fellows of the PSN. Also, she thanked the PSN president for bestowing the honour of organizing the event on her.
Afterwards, Professor [Mrs] Lilian Salami, vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin, delivered an inspiring, captivating and educative Keynote Speech. Prof Salami as an opening, expressed that it is a great privilege for her to be invited to the epoch event. She continued, saying that Prof Usifoh is a senior and distinguished Professor of the University of Benin who has been a source of pride not only to the University of Benin but also to the Pharmacy Profession and indeed Nigeria.
Professor [Mrs] Lilian Salami delivering the keynote speech.
She further stated that, he is the first serving Professor to be the president of PSN, a monumental feat. Prof Salami proceeded to congratulate the new fellows and then went into the keynote speech proper.
Speaking on the topic: IGNITING OUR SOCIETY, CONNECTING THE DOTS, she gave some attributes of the Pharmacist.
Continuing her speech, she stated various issues affecting Nigeria as a country and then admonished the PSN to play her part in addressing these issues. She stated that the Nigerian society desperately needs a spark from PSN. In her words, “…we can achieve reasonable self-sufficiency in drug procurement. The drug distribution channel needs to remove the presence of fake and expired medicines”. She mentioned that every Nigerian needs to feel the impact of the Pharmacists. In conclusion, she invited everyone to ignite the society by having the right attitude to the profession (Pharmacy) and by extension our society. “We should be instruments for connecting positive ideas and for connecting focused talented and experienced persons to cause the needed spark that will keep our society permanently aglow”. She further said that the dots of the past connect with the present and the present connects with the future and that our future will be greater. We will not merely wish so but, we must and we will have to work the talk. Finally, she thanked everyone for their attention.
The climax of the event was the inauguration proper of the PSN President, Pharm.[Prof.] Cyril O. Usifoh, FPSN. An abbreviated version of his biography was read and he then stepped up to the podium with his wife, Pharm [Mrs] Stella Usifoh for the Handing over ceremony. His predecessor, Pharm [Mazi] Sam Ohuabunwa OFR, FPSN handed over the baton of leadership to him. The chairman of the occasion Pharm. [Dr] Mrs Dere Awosika gave a brief speech and a Special Recognition award was presented to all previous PSN presidents.
Pharm [Mazi] Sam Ohuabunwa OFR, FPSN, the immediate past PSN president, passing the Emblem of Office to Pharm.[Prof.] Cyril O. Usifoh, FPSN, the new president.
Thereafter, the 112 Pharmacists to be inducted as fellows were called out individually and decorated with their awards by the former PSN President, Pharm [Mazi] Sam Ohuabunwa, Pharm [Prof.] Cyril O. Usifoh and the Chairman board of fellows.
The PSN president, Prof. Cyril O. Usifoh, FPSN, and some of the newly invested fellows.
The newly invested fellows were welcomed by the Chairman Board of Fellows who urged them to always identify with the board. After this, Pharmacist Hon. Alhajia Talatum Obune Uwa gave a vote of thanks on behalf of the new fellows.
Closing the ceremony, the PSN National Secretary, Prince Pharmacist Gbenga Falabi, gave the vote of thanks appreciating the Chief Host of the occasion, the Honourable Minister of State for Health, the keynote speaker, other dignitaries, members of the press and all Pharmacists present. The national anthem was once again recited signalling the end of the ceremony.
Editor-in-Chief: Pharm. Tonuewa, Sejoro
National Public Relations Officer: Pharm Ozuluoha Chioma Cynthia
A publication of Editorial Committee, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria - Young Pharmacists Group 2021/2022.