Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Sunday December 5, 2021 performed the Foundation-Laying Ceremony of Olu Akinkugbe Faculty of Pharmacy at the permanent site of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Akeredolu described the occasion as historic in view of the demonstration of sincerity shown by the initiator of the project through the setting of Olu Akinkugbe Pharmacy Education Trust coupled with his desire to contribute significantly to the development of UNIMED.

“There are two very important reasons why I consider this occasion historic. Firstly, we are witnessing a unique demonstration of a private trust: The Olu Akinkugbe Pharmacy Education Trust partnering a public university, the University of Medical Sciences, Ondo. It is noteworthy that Trust Fund was created with the specific purpose of supporting the establishment of the Faculty of Pharmacy of UNIMED.

“Secondly, this represents a significant milestone in the establishment of this university as a specialised training institution in Nigeria positioned to produce graduates with the capacity to address the need of our health system within the State and the nation at large”, Akeredolu declared.
The governor who stated the importance of modern Pharmacy to healthcare delivery said resource limitation had inhibited the take-off of Pharmacy in UNIMED despite the progress of the University in all its other programmes in Medical and Health Sciences.

“The principal task of the modern pharmacist is to identify, resolve and prevent drug-related problems. It is only logical that our university also train pharmacists along with the other health care professionals already being trained.
“Over the past seven years of its existence, UNIMED has developed programmes in virtually all areas of medical and health sciences but has not been able to start its Pharmacy programme to date due to resource limitations”, he added.
While expressing delight with the partnership of Olu Akinkugbe Pharmacy Education Trust with UNIMED which would lead to the take-off of a Pharmacy Faculty at the University, Governor Akeredolu called for similar partnerships that will be a veritable pathway worthy of emulation at moving tertiary education forward in the state.

“This partnership provides a clear illustration of how we can move tertiary education forward in our dear State and country through the productive partnership of multiple stakeholders, especially Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private citizens.
“Again, our esteemed parents constitute a critical part of the stakeholders and they must equally show the readiness to contribute not only in terms of school fees but in making donations of various kinds that will help the institutions.
“We are therefore, most grateful to Chief Olu Akinkugbe and his family for their extraordinary generosity. This is a truly inspiring project. This uncommon approach of leaving a legacy and giving back to society and generations yet unborn is worthy of emulation”, the Governor stressed.
Vice-Chancellor, University of Medical Sciences, (UNIMED), Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi said the occasion was one step in the evolving history of the young institutions, but one giants step toward the realisation of the vision, mission and purpose as an institution.
He said that the university through Prof Fola Tayo, convened a three day meeting of an expert advisory group consisting of 30 leading professionals drawn from various pharmaceutical disciplines, several sectors, the University system, industries, regulatory agencies, and international development organisations.
Fatusi noted that the task of the expert advisory group was to help develop relevant documents and advise on the pathway towards achieving the kind of world class pharmacy education that Nigeria needs in the 21st century, and which will address the gaps in the current training curricula and educational activities.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that SURGE initiative of the University is aimed at ensuring that the institution fully move to the permanent site before December 8, 2024 when the institution will be celebrating the 10th anniversary, saying the SURGE initiative will be formally launch in January 2022.