Beautiful sights and scenery at the opening ceremony of the 2nd International Scientific Conference, Eko Akete 2024, of the Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN), held between Tuesday, April 23 and Saturday, April 27, 2024, at NECA House Event Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.
Company presentations preceded the start of the opening ceremony as the theme “Global Trends in Patient Care: Clinical Pharmacy as a Gateway to Sustainable Healthcare” set the pace for advanced practice and provision of healthcare services beyond what currently holds in the country.
In their welcome addresses, the State Coordinator of Lagos State CPAN, Dr. Arinola Joda; the CPAN Programmes Committee Chairman, Pharm Charles Akinsete; the International Conference Planning Committee (ICPC) Chairperson, Dr. Tricia Cookey-Gam, assured dignitaries and participants present of an impactful and memorable event, appreciating the dignitaries for marking the event with their presence. The Registrar, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed; the Secretary-General of West African College of Post-graduate Pharmacists (WAPCP), Prof Ibrahim Oreagba; the Chairperson, Pharmacy Council of Niger Republic; the Grand Patron of CPAN/Father of the Day, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, among others, delivered their goodwill messages, raising kudos to CPAN leadership for such significant event in Nigeria.
In their separate addresses, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Professor Cyril Odianose Usifoh and the Chairman of the opening event, who is the Managing Director of Fidson Healthcare, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, represented by Head of Marketing of THE company, Mr. Friday Enahoro, lauded the organisation of the world-class conference and the association led by Dr. Joseph Madu. While Usifoh assured that the industry is changing narratives, enjoining everyone to belong to CPAN, the Chairman of the opening event declared full support for the association towards the betterment of the industry and Nigeria at large.
After his address, Prince Julius Adelusi Adeluyi FPSN, OFR, mni; alongside the Special Adviser on Health to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi; and a founding father of Clinical Pharmacy in Nigeria, Dr. Evbade Arigbe-Osula GCPAN, FPSN, FPCPharm, and other health industry leaders in Nigeria, launched a book titled “Guide to Interpretation & ABC of Routine Clinical Tests Usage” authored by the National Chairman of CPAN, Dr. Joseph Madu.
Giving his address after the book launch, Dr. Madu charged his audience on the need to do more “especially in Nigeria and some other African countries, when viewed from the context of many Western countries with better health indices. All these, if done will transcend to better health outcomes for our people. There is also a need for a national policy on clinical pharmacy in Nigeria as obtainable in other countries.” Taking her plenary session while speaking on the topic “Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Global Roles of Clinical Pharmacists in Focus,” the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Mrs. Kemi Ogunyemi harped on the need for collaboration between related health organisations and agencies, as well as the private and public sector. She added that working together is the way to achieve the primary goals of the scientific conference.
In her Keynote Address, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in The Americas (NAPPSA) and the President of the West African Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (WASPEN), Dr. Teresa Isichei Pounds, also stressed that that “pharmacists need to have innovative solutions, enhanced communication and collaboration, and capacity building.”
After the plenary session on “Mentorship in Clinical Pharmacy Practice: The Way Forward” chaired by Distinguished Prof. Cecilia Igwilo, appreciation awards were given to Dr. Pounds, Prof. Igwilo and Prof. Femi Oyewo for their contributions at the conference. Also in attendance at the opening ceremony are, the Vice Chancellor of Chrisland University, Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola; the Royal Father of the Day, the Onilu of Alausa land, HRH Toyin Badmus, among others.
