The Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Benin has been accredited by the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN). In a statement released by Mr. Elijah Mohammed the PCN Registrar in Abuja on Tuesday said that, the body has newly accredited “The faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences” in 18 Universities.
According to him, Nigeria produces about 1,500 pharmacists yearly adding that, this number is highly unsatisfactory for a country as this.
He said, accrediting the faculty in these universities would give them the capacity to graduate more pharmacists annually to meet with the human resource requirement needed by the profession in the country.
He explained further that, the accreditation was in harmony with the law setting up the council which mandated it to regulate the education training and practice of pharmacy and other professionals within the pharmaceutical landscape.
Some of the universities accredited include; University of Benin, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, University of Maiduguri, University of Jos, University of Nigeria Nsukka, and Madonna University Okija. Also, University of Port Harcourt, Nmamdi Azikiwe University Akwa, University of Uyo, Delta State University and Abraka.
Others included are University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye.
The registrar, however, explained that the accreditation was done to ascertain the staff strength, qualifications, and the staff and students ratio among others.
”The quality of professionals from these institutions has been excellent because most of our products that find their way into UK, Canada, America and other countries have performed excellently well.”
“We augment NUC accreditation because they also carry out accreditation. Sometimes we compare notes and still do the needful when the need arises.”
“In the process of accrediting institutions, we look at the structures that are available for training and research, laboratories to ensure that they meet the minimum standard, available equipment for training and research.”
“We give special attention to quality of laboratories, whether they still have those chemicals that will enable the students to go through courses like pharmaceutics which involves drug production, pharmaceutical Chemistry that involves drug analysis and other aspect of training.”
“We also look at the structures, student enrolment to ensure that those that are enrolled have the minimum qualification required to study in such faculty.’’
According to Mr. Mohammed, in order to ascertain the welfare of the staffs and students of the faculty in these universities, the body carried out one on one conversation with the students and lecturers in the faculty of these universities.
He also mentioned that, the council also conducts historical perspective of qualification of professors and other staff in the faculty.
“We normally have a brief with the Vice Chancellors highlighting the short comings and also applauding them for what they have been doing so that they can be encouraged to do more.”
Meanwhile, it has commenced re-accreditation of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto on Feb. 20. According to him, the council will again, visit the institution after four years for full accreditation.
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