After two decades since their first degree in Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), the 2003 class/set of graduated students, have held an exquisite inaugural reunion at Best Western Plus Hotel, Independence Layout, Enugu. The hybrid event held between Friday, April 5 and Sunday, April 7, 2024, witnessed a sizeable number of the Pharmacy 2003 Class who expressed their delight to meet after two decades.

Being a three-day event for reunion, the arrival ceremony was characterized by prayers, the UNN anthem, opening remarks by the Coordinator of the Central Planning Committee (CPC), introduction and catch-up of classmates as well as dinner. The excited classmates also had a moment of sober reflection to remember the dead colleagues.

The current Dean of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNN, Prof. Ikechukwu Onyishi, in a statement sent to the 2003 class, expressed his joy and pride on behalf of the staff and students of the faculty, noting that they are “proud that this citadel of learning has been producing great mean and women especially in this class who are doing great in all spheres of life.” Wishing them a successful reunion, the dean also hoped that they soar greater in their endeavours in life.

In his opening remarks, the Coordinator of the Central Planning Committee, Pharm Innocent Ibegbunam, DrPH, MPH, B.Pharm. who is also the Country Director, Ghana of Chemonics International Inc., overseeing USAID Global Health Supply Chain Program, described his excitement on the inaugural reunion and 20th graduation anniversary, boasting that on geographical spread, over two dozen colleagues of the class are making positive impacts outside of the shores of Nigeria in the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom etc as well as having leading business experts across Nigeria as well.

According to him, “the UNN Pharmacy Class of 2003 are men and women of timber and calibre, hence our desire to come together as a group to felicitate among ourselves on our 20years graduation anniversary. On professional achievements, our class boasts of over two dozen of Chief Executive Officers, Country Directors and Managers, Projects Directors and Managers, Professors, Pharmacy Managers, Pharmacy Directors, Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors, and Pharmacy Owners. We are also blessed with the clergies, fashion gurus, political experts, royalties, publicity, and communication experts. We are really a gifted group of individuals that had been brought together by providence and tutored under brave and outstanding academic giants at UNN.”

Ibegbunam also told his colleagues that “it is my aspiration that we will use this occasion to reconnect with each other again. This will enable us to rekindle the spirit of unity, joy, and friendship that we struck ‘in the Lion’s Den’ for six years as a group. It is my utmost desire that we also use this moment to further start looking out for each other and explore how we can support ourselves individually and/or collectively to succeed and thrive around the world.”

As the online attendees also participated in the interactive sessions, the UNN Pharmacy 2003 Class reunion included lectures on “Creating sustainable wealth in the face of challenging economic conditions” delivered virtually by a professional accountant, farmer and realtor, Sir Princewill Eziukwu, and “Pharmacists’ participation in local and national health sector dialogue and policy making for impact: Lessons from practical experience” delivered onsite by a three-time member of the Anambra house of Assembly and a pharmacist, Hon. Obinna Emeneka.

In his delivery on creating sustainable wealth, Sir Princewill Eziukwu advised the members of the class to “grow your business organically, consider running business that provide cash flow, be unique in offering business ideas, adapt to changing trends, find a new that won’t go away, make a difference, start small and join a cooperative.” On the other hand, with his practical experience as a politician, Hon. Obinna Emeneka, told his colleagues that politics is not a dirty game as often said in some quarters, charging them to embrace it with the positive mindset for impacting society.

Under the exciting atmosphere filled with music, as elected officers for the class body were announced and given certificates of return with the president’s acceptance speech, the reunion also had games, recognition of special guests, photographs, and sumptuous meals. At the reunion banquet, another interest session of the event, there was award presentation to outstanding members of the class trailblazing in different areas, cutting of cake, goodwill messages and dancing galore.

Awards were presented to distinguished delegates under the following headings, Distinguished Pharmacy Career in Community Practice (Male), Pharm. Francis Edozie; Distinguished pharmacy Career in Community Practice (Female), Pharm. Mrs Ogochukwu Akamelu; Distinguished Pharmacy Career in Hospital Practice (Male), Pharm. Alexandar Arum; Distinguished Pharmacy Career in Hospital Practice (Female), Pharm. Mrs Eyiuche Onwughalu; Eminent Career in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Chief Pharm. Benedict Ogbaegbe; Palliative Career in Pharmaceutical Importation (Male), Pharm. Kingsley Amagba; Distinguished Pharmaceutical Career in Academics, Pharm John Ogbonna, PhD; Distinguished Pharmaceutical Career in Research and Development (Male), Pharm Ugochukwu Ezeugo, and Political Icon in Mainstream Politics, Hon. Pharm. Obinna Emeneka.

Others are, Outstanding Political Figure in Pharmaceutical Professional Politics (Male), Pharm. Phillips Njeokwu; Outstanding Political Figure in Pharmaceutical Professional Politics (Female), Pharm. Mrs Chinyere Ajoku; Esteemed Male Philanthropist, Chief Dr Paul Ezenwa; Esteemed Female Philanthropist, Pharm. Mrs Onyiye Ezekwu; Outstanding Pharmacist Entrepreneur, Chief Dr Paul Ezenwa; Outstanding Entrepreneur Female, Pharm. Nkiru Ekwunife; Selfless Service to the Class (Male), Pharm Innocent Ibegbunam; Selfless Service to the Class (Female), Pharm. Mrs Nwamaka Ijioma; Unique Contribution to the Profession (Female), Pharm. Mrs Agbomma Igbokwe; Unique Contribution to the Profession (Male), Pharm Chukwudi Uche; and Attaining a Distinguished Career Peak (Male), Pharm Innocent Ibegbunam.

In separate interviews with CEOAFRICA, the attendees expressed their delight to have reunited with themselves after many years, while looking forward to their individual and corporate greater achievements in the years to come. In the words of the pioneer President of the class, Pharm Innocent Ibegbunam, “as we get to know ourselves and what we are doing, we will start looking at those potentials that we have to harness the talents, treasures, and strengths that we have. We will start forming strong bonding ultimately to see how we can continue to see and help each other.” He also added that the class despite having done things for the ease of students and staff members of their alma mater, they intend to do more now that they have a solid structure.

Hon. Obinna Emeneka who also expressed his excitement and gratitude to God for meeting his classmates and for their achievements over the years, stated that they have confidence in the elected officials to steer the helm of affairs of the class to greater heights in the next five years. In the same vein, Pharm. Chukwudi who said the reunion was moments of reflections, noted thoroughly that the people voted competence, and it is left to them to make the class proud. He also boasted that their class includes experts from all walks of life.

Pharm. Mrs Ijeoma Amaka said that it’s a great thing and a thing of fulfilment to have seen her colleagues, expressing her hopes to “see everyone of us in places where our heart desires are met. I want a situation where all of us have prospered in everything we are doing.” Pharm Kingsley Amagba, who also expressed his happiness upon the success of the reunion, said that the reunion has laid the structure that will contribute to the development of the society, adding they will develop humanity and contribute heavily to their alma mater and as well, help their colleagues who need help. Another attendee, Pharm. Ogochuwku Odikpo prided this event was just a tip of the iceberg compared to what will be planned out in the next five years where they will reach out to the greater community.

While speaking to CEOAFRICA, Pharm. Ekemezie Anthony described the planning of the reunion as challenging but with a beautiful outcome as Pharm. Mrs Chinyere Rose Ajoku admitted that if she had missed the priceless moment, she would have felt bad for the rest of her life. She noted looking forward to better years ahead without dropping the tempo of the occasion. For Pharm. Dr. Nkiru Ekwunife, the feeling is out of this world as she expressed her gratitude for the gift of life and many things, pointing that the expectations for the coming years are quite high.

One of the awardees, Chief Dr. Paul Ezenwa who travelled down from the United States to witness the reunion, said that seeing his classmates after twenty years of post-graduation means a lot, adding that, “I learnt a lot of things from them since no one is an island of knowledge. In the process of interacting, you get to learn a lot of things.” Pharm Felix Ndiukwu said he felt fulfilled and elated to see his classmates living in the reality of the potentials they had while in school, adding that in the next five years, beyond having a bigger participation of class members especially with those in diaspora, the class will give back to the society. Pharm Igboanugo Uchenna blessed God, praying for journey mercies as back to their different destinations.

Other interesting part of the event include sports and physical exercises as the reunion ended at a Sunday thanksgiving mass/service at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Independence Layout, Enugu before the delegates departed for their respective destinations.

Members who were there Physically present at this historical reunion are Innocent Ibegbunam (Ghana),John Ogbonna (Nsukka),Chukwudi Uche (Abuja),Ogochukwu Odikpo (Lagos) ,Emeka Ezeani (Lagos) , Emmanuel Okafor (Enugu),Elias Ugwuoke (Enugu),Felix Ndiukwu(Benin),Alex Arum (Enugu),Obinna Jude Ogbu (Jos),Chinyere Ajoku (Port Harcourt),Kelechi Nwachukwu (Port Harcourt),Kingsley Amagba (Port Harcourt)14.Ndubuisi Nyia (Port Harcourt) ,Amaka Ijioma (Abuja) .Anthony Ekemezie (Port Harcourt) ,Chizoba Maduekwe (Asaba) ,Bennett Nnadi (Owerri) 19. Nnamdi Ezenwanne (Lagos),Benedict Ogbaegbe (Lagos),Hyginus Okafor (Abuja),Amobi Ezeoba (Enugu),Anike Matthias Ogbonnaya (Enugu),Obinna Emeneka (Awka),Francis Edozie (Lagos),Walter Agbo (Port Harcourt),Chioma Nwachukwu (Owerri),Maureen Ezeibekwe (Port Harcourt),Juliet Oyima (Abuja),Nkiru Ekwunife (Lagos/Enugu),Uchenna Ogbughalu (Lagos), Gordon Anyanwu (Port Harcourt) ,Ifeoma Kurume (Enugu) ,Anthony Maduka (Elele) , Uju Ewelukwa (Onitsha),Christian Onuorah (Eziagu. Enugu),Ndidi Abba (Enugu) , Paul Ezenwa (USA) ,ichal Okafor (Lagos)

And those Online attendance are Ijeoma Obinwanne ,Ozoemena Offiah , Eyiuche Onwughalu, Adaku Efuribe. Uju Oluwafemi Chinyelu Odigwe, Peter Nwankwo ,Samuel Molokwu ,Joy Ekpeh ,Agbomma Igbokwe , Ugochukwu Ezeugo ,Uzoma Ibeh ,Irene Ogbuefi ,Kate Obikili