NAPHARM Honours Zulum As Honorary Fellowship, Baale Becomes New leader, 13 Fellows Added
L-R: New President Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, Pharm (Prof) Lere Baale; Governor of Borno State represented by his Deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur; immediate past President, Nigerian Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi; Pharm (Alhaji) Ahmed Yakasai; Pharm (Mazi) Sam Ohuabunwa, both Foundation Fellows during the 10th anniversary & investiture of Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy held in Lagos.
NAPHARM Honours Zulum As Honorary Fellowship, Baale Becomes New leader, 13 Fellows Added
Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) has handed over the mantle of leadership to Professor Lere Baale as NAPHARM’s new boss during the academy’s 10th-anniversary celebration and induction of 13 new Fellows.
Baale was inaugurated with the new executive committee of the academy under his headship.
The NAPHARM anniversary which took place on Thursday, 19 September, 2024 at the J.F. Ade Ajayi Hall, University of Lagos was attended by stakeholders in the Nigerian pharmaceutical industry.
The event also witnessed representations from members of other professional bodies, including the Nigeria Academy of Letters, the Nigeria Society of Engineers, and the Nigerian Bar Association, just to mention a few.
Welcoming guests to the occasion on behalf of NAPHARM, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, its outgoing Vice-President, thanked the Borno State Governor, for sending his deputy, despite the fact that the state has been grappling with the flooding tragedy that has led to the displacement of families in Maiduguri and environs.
Pharm. Atueyi added that the occasion was a result of many months of serious work by the committee which was saddled with the responsibility of planning for its success right from the beginning of the year.
In his remarks, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, also appreciated the Governor of Borno State for sending his deputy to represent him, adding that Professor Zulum is a pacesetting governor, a man of systems who knows that the invitation from the academy is not just any other invitation.
He added that the NAPHARM Honorary Fellowship Award is highly prestigious and only reserved for high-flying Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields.
“Despite the flooding crisis, something tells me that going by the governor’s training as an engineer, we shall overcome”, he added.
While congratulating the new fellows on their investiture, Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi said NAPharm has been and would continue to be “a thing of beauty and a joy forever” quoting famous British poet, John Keats.
“At 10, NAPharm has gone through a lot of challenges but through resilience, it has overcome”, he added.
Special Guest and Governor of Borno State, Professor Babangana Umara Zulum, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Umar Usman Kadafur, was conferred with an honorary fellowship by the academy, in recognition of his outstanding achievements as a public servant.
Speaking on the theme of NAPHARM’s 10th-anniversary celebration – “Healthcare Transformation for National Development”, Zulum outlined the significant contributions of quality healthcare to economic development and urged stakeholders to think out of the box to sustain the momentum of excellence in the sector.
“Healthcare is one of the most critical pillars of any society, serving as a foundation for individuals’ well-being and economic growth. When a nation invests in transforming its healthcare system, it invests in its people and ultimately, its future.
“A robust, accessible, and efficient healthcare system fosters a healthy workforce, enhances productivity, reduces poverty, and contributes to societal stability. This essay explores how healthcare transformation drives national development by examining its impact on economic growth, social equity, human capital development, and technological innovation.
“National development becomes more inclusive when all citizens can access the necessary healthcare. Healthy citizens are better equipped to participate in the economy, contribute to social and civic life, and break the cycle of poverty. Healthcare transformation promotes social cohesion, and stability and shares prosperity by reducing health disparities”, he said.
13 Fellows were inducted into the academy – 4 from 2023 and 9 from 2024. The 2023 Fellows were Pharm. Bunmi Aribeana; Dr Obi Adigwe; Professor Martins Emeje and Pharm. Earnest Okafor. The 2024 Fellows were Professor Olusola Aremu; Pharm. Rahman Jimoh Bioku; Pharm. Olubukola Adewunmi (Bukky George) and Pharm. Adeyinka Adebowale Ishola. Others were Pharm. Rametu Momodu; Pharm. Dr Modupe Oyawole; Pharm. Professor Rebecca Soremekun; Pharm. Professor Chinwe Victoria Ukwe; and Pharm. Aliyu Zakari.
The high point of the occasion witnessed the unveiling of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy Innovation Centre (NAPIC) which was done by the Borno State Governor, represented by his deputy, alongside the outgoing NAPHARM President and other executive members of the academy.
