Sagamu agog, as PANS national convention kicks off in style

It was a carnival-like arena as pharmacy students from pharmacy schools across the country besieged the New Auditorium Hall, of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, Ogun State, for the 43^rd Annual National Convention of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), which holds from 8 to 12, October 2019.

The enthusiastic students, who were brimming with smiles, were already seated with their writing materials as early as 10 am when the programme commenced.

The National Convention is an annual event of PANS national, which currently has its secretariat at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Sagamu Campus, having produced the current president, Mr. Samuel Oluwaseyi Akanbi. This year convention has the theme “Sowing the Seeds of Professional Impact: Working to Transcend the Generations of Pharmacists to Come”,  and the week would be featuring seminars, mentorship session, literary events, sports contests and some other social activities to foster interaction among the visiting pharmacy schools.

The national convention, which kicked off with the opening ceremony under the chairmanship of the managing director, Miral Flash Nigeria Limited, Pharm. Moses Oluwalade, also had in attendance several eminent guests, such as Pharm. (Dr) Lolu Ojo, PSN presidential hopeful and former national chairman, National Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP); Pharm. Gbenga Falabi, the keynote speaker and the immediate past national chairman, (NAIP); Pharm. (Alh) Ahmed Yakasai, president, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), who was represented by Pharm. Emeka Duru, national secretary, PSN; Dr Oluwayemisi Bamiro, dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, Olabisi Onabanjo University; Pharm. Daniel Orumwense, deputy president, PSN, represented by Pharm. Agbojo Olukemi, immediate past chairman, PSN, Ogun State; and Pharm. Abdul Hafeez, chairperson, IPSF, among others.

While delivering his speech, the managing director, Miral Flash Nigeria Limited, a leading pharmaceutical company in the country, Pharm. Moses Oluwalade, who was the chairman of the opening ceremony urged the students to embrace hard work and diligence, which, he said, were the hallmark of success.

According to him, leadership skills which he described as an essential component in positioning executives to make thoughtful decisions about their organization's mission and goals, and properly allocate resources to achieve those directives are to excel in the pharmacy profession.

While describing the theme of the programme, “ Sowing the Seeds of Professional Impact: Working to Transcend the Generations of Pharmacists to Come”, as apt and timely, the Miral Flash boss, noted that leadership traits include honesty, confidence, commitment, and creativity, adding that the students should stop being egocentric, but begin to exhibit leadership skills that are vision driven.

“As pharmacists, you are practicing one of the foremost professionals in the World, so I am urging you today to raise your head and avoid intimidation that may come from any quarter as you are not supposed to be a second class citizen as far as healthcare family is concerned. I also want to urge you to be proactive, plan ahead, be courageous, be flexible and don’t do things haphazardly,” he advised.

In recognition of his immense support to PANS national activities, the national pharmacy students group, presented an Award of Appreciation to Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, Pharmanews Publisher, who was represented at the convention by Mr Adebayo Oladejo.

The convention had in attendance fourteen schools of pharmacy across the country, including the host, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, Ogun State; University of Uyo; Nnamdi Azikiwe University; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Delta State University; University of Ilorin, Kwara State; Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Osun State; University of Ibadan, Oyo State; Uthman Dan Fodio University; Kogi State University; University of Maiduguri; University of Port Harcourt; Niger-Delta University.