Nigeria’s first specialized medical and health sciences university, the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo City, Ondo State is set to blaze the trail in the field of pharmacy with the construction of a world-class faculty of pharmacy building in the permanent site of the university located in Ondo and the introduction of an innovative degree programme. The Faculty of Pharmacy is named after Chief Olu Akinkugbe, one of the greatest pharmacists in the history of Nigeria, a quintessential entrepreneur and business icon.
The Olu Akinkugbe Pharmacy Education Trust (OAPET) in collaboration with the University at an event held at Victoria Island, Lagos State on Thursday, September 15, 2022, signed a contract with a construction company to start the construction of phase I of the Faculty building, which is expected to be completed in fifty-two (52) weeks.
In his welcome address, the Vice-Chancellor, UNIMED, Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi noted the importance and the need to reposition pharmacy education in the country given the numerous challenges bedeviling the Nigerian health sector.
“There is an urgent need to address the palpable and critical gaps in our health sector, especially in the area of drug discovery and production. The University of Medical Sciences, Ondo is not only interested in becoming a one-stop institution for training in all health and medical sciences fields but also to address some of the major gaps currently existing in pharmacy education in Nigeria, and contributes towards addressing the human resource challenge in pharmacy practise,” Prof. Fatusi stated.
He added: “We cannot do things the same way and expect different results. Nigeria is in dire need of a pharmacy education programme that responds to the need of the 21st century, and our proposed programme will rise to the occasion. Our university’s pharmacy education programme would have a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and drug discovery. The Faculty will work in strong collaboration with the University’s Centre for Herbal Medicine and Drug Discovery to harness Nigeria’s natural resources of herbs, and promote drug development.
The Chairman, Board of Trustee, OAPET and former Honourable Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, OFR said the Faculty is designed as a centre of learning that will attract the brightest minds in Africa and beyond, creating a hub for collaboration to revolutionize the medical and pharmaceutical industry.
“This is a dream to be able to achieve a world-class faculty of pharmacy in a university like the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo to make the practice of pharmacy different and better than it is before, to set up a faculty that will meet global standards for pharmaceutical practice,” he said. Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi called on members of the public to support the Board in building and equipping the proposed Olu Akinkugbe Faculty of Pharmacy at UNIMED, Ondo assuring that donors will be immortalized.”
He congratulated the foundation Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, UNIMED, Ondo, Prof. Abiodun Ogundaini on his recent appointment by the university while tasking him to bring to the fore his wealth of experience in the development of the new faculty.
The high point of the occasion was the signing of the contract and hand-over of the project document to the contractor, Engineer Micheal Adeloye for immediate commencement of the project. The Contractor described the project as a landmark achievement that requires topmost quality.
Other dignitaries on the occasion include the Secretary, OAPET and former Pro-Chancellor, Caleb University, Prof. Fola Tayo, MFR; Board member, OAPET, Mrs. Kofoworola Akinkugbe, NPOM; and the University Registrar, Dr. Woleola Ekundayo among others.
