167 UNIZIK Graduates Officially Inducted By PCN
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) officially welcomes 167 UNIZIK pharmacy graduates in induction ceremony.
Mary Nwaeze 
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has officially welcomed 167 pharmacy graduates from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Unizik), Awka, and Anambra State into the profession. The induction ceremony, a significant milestone for the 2021 and 2022 graduating sets of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Unizik, unfolded at the Juhel Auditorium, Unizik Awka-Agulu Campus in the Anoacha local government area of the state on Saturday.
During the induction ceremony, Prof. Chibueze Ihekwereme, the Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy, shared in his welcome address that out of the 167 graduates, 67 achieved distinctions, while the remaining graduates successfully completed their courses. He emphasized that the graduates were thoroughly equipped to excel in various fields and endeavors.
The Registrar of PCN, Ibrahim Ahmed, highlighted the significance of oath-taking and induction as essential requirements outlined in the PCN Establishment Act for the official registration as a pharmacist. Addressing the inductees, he urged them to uphold high ethical standards and leadership skills as prescribed by PCN, emphasizing the importance of becoming exemplary professionals in providing quality pharmaceutical services for sustainable healthcare delivery in the country.
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Ahmed emphasized the necessity for the new pharmacists to familiarize themselves with the code of professional ethics, outlining their responsibilities to patients, colleagues, healthcare professionals, employers, and the general public. Strict adherence to this code, he stressed, is vital for the global practice of the pharmacy profession.
While congratulating the inductees on their achievement, Ahmed cautioned against engaging in unwholesome practices, emphasizing that the PCN is unequivocally opposed to professional misconduct. He reminded them that the PCN Act includes provisions for the establishment of an investigative panel and disciplinary tribunal to handle issues of professional misconduct.
The theme of the induction ceremony, "Challenges, Realities, and Opportunities for Young Graduates: The Role of Collaboration," underscores the importance of collaborative efforts in navigating the various aspects of the pharmacy profession. The event serves not only as a formal entry into the pharmacy profession for the graduates but also as a platform to instill the values and responsibilities integral to their roles as pharmacists.
