A total of 149 pharmacy graduates from Igbinedion University, Okada, were formally inducted into the pharmacy profession during the 15th Oath-Taking and Induction Ceremony of the Professor Dora Akunyili College of Pharmacy, held on Thursday at the university campus in Okada.
The event marked a significant milestone for the graduates, transitioning them from years of rigorous academic training into licensed professionals ready to contribute to Nigeria’s healthcare landscape.
In his opening address, the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Prof. Lawrence Ikechukwu Ezemonye PhD, FAS, described the inductees as “reformers, innovators, and leaders.” He urged them to actively address critical gaps in the country’s public health system, emphasizing that true impact in pharmacy requires blending competence with compassion.
“Your ability to translate complex drug information into compassionate care will determine the quality of your impact,” Prof. Ezemonye said. He highlighted lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed vulnerabilities in healthcare delivery, including vaccine distribution and patient education. “The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vital role of pharmacists in public health… It also revealed gaps in our systems—gaps that your generation must help close.”
The Vice-Chancellor congratulated the new pharmacists and encouraged them to build essential bridges: between care and compassion, innovation and equity, and knowledge and kindness. These values, he noted, would advance the profession while uplifting humanity.
The Guest Speaker, Pharm. (Sir) Bankole Aminu Ezebuilo – Managing Director of Kayhelt Pharmaceuticals Ltd and Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria– delivered the keynote lecture titled “Building Bridges and Raising Hope for the Next Generation of Compassionate Pharmacists.
He described the ceremony as “a sacred moment where years of discipline, sacrifice, and quiet resilience are transformed into a lifelong calling.” Pharm. Ezebuilo stressed pharmacists’ central role in the entire medicine lifecycle—from discovery and formulation to storage, dispensing, patient education, monitoring, and proper use.
“You are the bridge between policy and people, ensuring that laws and regulations do not remain words on paper, but translate into safe, accessible, and affordable medicines for all,” he said. “You are also the bridge between generations, honoring the wisdom of those who built this profession while boldly shaping a future they could only imagine.”
In a world marked by inequality, misinformation, and fear, Pharm. Ezebuilo called on the new pharmacists to prioritize connection over convenience, collaboration over competition, and service over silence. He further emphasized the need to “raise hope” for future generations by protecting integrity, rewarding excellence, mentoring young professionals, and recognizing compassion as strength.
“If you build bridges, you will connect lives to healing; if you raise hope, you will change futures; and if you remain compassionate, you will redefine pharmacy for generations to come,” Pharm. Ezebuilo concluded.
Representing the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Azeeh Maude – South-South Zonal Director – enjoined the new pharmacists to uphold the highest ethical standards and exhibit leadership in their practice. He stressed that strict adherence to the PCN Code of Ethics is indispensable for sustainable healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
Key highlights of the ceremony included the administration of the professional oath to the 149 inductees, the presentation of provisional registration certificates by the PCN, and the award of the PCN cash prize and certificate to the Best Graduating Student, Pharm. Olowosoyo Glory Temitope.
The induction underscores Igbinedion University’s continued commitment to producing skilled, ethical pharmacists poised to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system amid ongoing challenges.
