President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, has pledged to see that the College of Pharmacy of the Gregory University, Uturu, becomes one of the best in Nigeria, as well as compete favourably with the best in the world.
Ohuabunwa gave the assurance recently on the college ground while acknowledging the honour by the university, which named its College of Pharmacy after him.
At the unveiling of the College of Pharmacy building, a ceremony witnessed by a galaxy of distinguished professionals from different walks, Ohuabunwa told the story of his association with the university, capping it with the endowment of N100million Fund in support of the College of Pharmacy.
He emphasized that the Fund is the collaborative effort of his family, professional colleagues and friends.
The College edifice is said to be a world class facility comparable only to institutions in Egypt and South Africa, with a standard operation modeled after Pharmaceutical colleges in Canada and North America.
The edifice is precisely tagged: Mazi Dr Sam Ohuabunwa College of Pharmacy Building.
Addressing the audience, which comprised the Founder & Chancellor, Prof Greg Iyke Ibe, Chairman and members of the BOT, Vice Chancellors, Pro Chancellor and members of the University Council, Vice Chancellor and members of the Senate, spiritual, political and traditional leaders, members of NEC, PSN, Fellows of PSN, Ohuabunwa said: “My joy is inestimable today and my gratitude to God is unquantifiable as I stand before you to accept this unique honour of unveiling The Mazi Dr Sam Ohuabunwa College of Pharmacy Building, Gregory University, Uturu.”
Ohuabunwa drew a deserving applause when he announced an endowment of N100million Fund to grow the College of Pharmacy of the institution.
He said: “I am thankful to my committee of friends and family led by Pharm. Ade Poopola, FPSN; past Chairman, BOF with Pharm Dr. Mathew Azoji, MD/CEO as secretary, who have agreed with me to set up an Endowment Fund for the Mazi Dr Sam Ohuabunwa College of Pharmacy, Gregory University, Uturu. The target of the endowment is N100 million. I want to thank them for their effort and hereby add my appeal to all my friends, colleagues and brothers to kindly support this effort.
“Fortunately some of my brothers, colleagues in the Pharm industry and friends have informed me that they have made some initial deposits in the dedicated account in Fidelity Bank.
“My God will reward them all and I will never forget their sacrifice and benevolence,” he said.
Ohuabunwa called on the Federal and State governments to support private universities such as the Gregory University, adjudged as one of the fastest growing private universities in the country.
He said: “The private universities are doing great job in training critical manpower for the development of Nigeria and helping to limit the flight of Nigerian youths and our foreign exchange to the outside world. The import of this contribution must be fully acknowledged and rewarded. Limiting TETFund support to only public universities is too discriminatory and very unfair and punitive. Those who attend private universities are Nigerians and they too deserve to benefit from the national investment in education.
“No private institution can fully recover the cost of quality education from charging fees only. Some subsidy is always needed. This must be provided by governments, Alumni support and through endowments as the one we have inaugurated this day.
Indeed Gregory University Uturu is among the eleven universities recently given approval to offer Pharm D.
No fewer than 192 Federal, State and private universities applied for approval to teach the six- year course leading to the award of Pharm D.
In a letter to the institution in that regard, the Director of Academic, National Universities Commission, Dr N. B. Saliu, said: “The philosophy behind the establishment of Pharm D programme in Nigerian universities is to provide students with a broad knowledge to further equip them with the ability to apply pharmaceutical knowledge in health care delivery system; acquire professional skills to identify and resolve drug related problems and to impact to the students a comprehensive knowledge of Pathophysiology, Therapeutic, Pharmacokinetic and Toxicology among several other aims and objectives.”
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