Writing By Teddy Daniel; Editing By Yusuf Zubairu
Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria PCN, Pharmacist Ibrahim Ahmed, has charged fresh pharmacy graduands at the Kaduna State University to uphold high ethical standards and professional excellence in their practice.
He gave the charge at the oath-taking and induction ceremony of 60 new pharmacists from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kaduna State University.
Pharmacist Ibrahim Ahmed said the induction was a statutory requirement under the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Establishment Act 2022 before registration as pharmacists.
He urged the graduands to see the profession as a noble calling that demands discipline, integrity, and life long learning.
“As you take the oath today and become inducted members of the pharmacy profession, I urge you to maintain high ethical standards, leadership qualities, and endeavour to be worthy professionals in providing quality pharmaceutical services for sustainable healthcare delivery in Nigeria.”,he said
The Registrar reminded the new inductees that their training was only at its first stage, stressing that the mandatory one year internship programme in PCN accredited centres must be taken seriously.
He explained that the Pre-Registration Examination for Pharmacists (PEP), which comes after internship, is based mainly on the experiences acquired during the programme.
According to him,PEP also serves as a quality assurance tool to align training with global best practices,hence the need to take it seriously as any lost time cannot be gotten back.
Pharmacist Ahmed further urged the new pharmacists to familiarize themselves with the Code of Ethics of the profession, describing compliance as indispensable.
He warned against professional misconduct which damages the image of the profession.
“Please keep off from the Register and Go Syndrome which has great potential to tarnish the image of Pharmacists and bring the profession to ridicule. Similarly, you are advised to refrain from all forms of dishonesty in your practice lifetime.”he stressed
The Registrar highlighted the wide range of opportunities available to pharmacists, from industry, hospitals, and community practice to research, academia, governance, and even information technology.
He further encouraged the inductees to embrace life long learning to cope with technological advances, disease burdens, drug resistance, and adverse drug reactions, adding that pharmacists are frontline health workers whose role is crucial.
“Pharmacy is a noble profession that provides new graduates with prospects of practising in different fields such as industry, hospitals, research, academia, publishing and even governance. With diligence and appropriate mentoring, you can excel in each of these areas.”,he concluded
The registrar of the Pharmacy Council congratulated the graduands, their parents, and the University community, while advising them to remain focused, avoid abandoned projects in their careers, and make purposeful changes that would complement their professional experience.
Earlier,the vice chancellor of the University Professor Abdullahi Ibrahim Musa, charged the newly inducted pharmacists to be good ambassadors of the university, stressing that their rigorous training must reflect in professional excellence, integrity, and service to humanity.
He urged the inductees to see themselves not only as assets to Nigeria’s health sector but also as global citizens whose impact should be felt worldwide.
The Vice Chancellor also advised students still undergoing training in the university to learn from the success of the graduands, noting that perseverance and discipline are essential for achievement.
Cov/Teddy
