AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT, NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHARMACY STUDENTS NORTH CYPRUS ON THE OCASSION OF THE PHARMACISTS COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (PCN) ACCREDITATION VISIT TO EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERISTY, FAMAGUSTA, NORTH CYPRUS

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT, NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF PHARMACY STUDENTS NORTH CYPRUS ON THE OCASSION OF THE PHARMACISTS COUNCIL OF NIGERIA (PCN) ACCREDITATION VISIT TO EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN UNIVERISTY, FAMAGUSTA, NORTH CYPRUS.

PRESENTED DURING THE PCN/ STUDENTS INTERACTIVE SESSION.

HELD ON THE 12^TH JULY, 2016.

I want to use the medium to welcome the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Fethi Sahin, the President National Association of Nigerian Students Turkish Zone, Comrade Salim Hamza Ringim, NAPS University chapter Presidents and fellow NAPSites to the PCN/Students interactive session.

It is with great honor, joy and privilege that I stand here today on behalf of the entire Nigerian Pharmacy Students in North Cyprus to address our government regulatory body, the Pharmacists Council of Nigerian (PCN) and this noble congress.

The quest to invite the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria to inspect and accredit all Universities offering Pharmacy in North Cyprus, namely; Eastern Mediterranean University, Cyprus International University and Near East University started few years ago, the actualization of this dream became successful as a result of the coming together of all Nigerian Pharmacy Students in North Cyprus with one single goal and interest, which is the development of the health sector in Nigeria and Africa at large upon graduation under the auspices of the NAPS North Cyprus.

Nigerian Association of Pharmacy Students North Cyprus is an umbrella body for all Nigerian Pharmacy Students in North Cyprus, NAPS has about 500 members (which is among the largest Nigerian Pharmacy Students Community outside Nigerian in the world), this population is distributed in 3 Universities on the Mediterranean Island, (Eastern Mediterranean University Famagusta 60%, Cyprus International University Lefkoşa 25% and Near East University Lefkoşa 15%)

Our major Aims and Objectives are as follows:

• To foster Unity among Nigerian Pharmacy Students in Cyprus to help tackle health Challenges facing our dear country Nigeria upon graduation by organizing programs such as, Tutorials, Seminars, Conferences, Symposiums, Health Awareness, Research, educational trips and Social activities.
• Invite the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) to all Universities offering Pharmacy to help Supervise and give appropriate approvals to our programs here.
• Work with the Turkish-Cypriot Government through our faculty deans to ensure that more traineeship and internship opportunities are provided for our students.
• Work with Sister Societies and associations to inculcate basic norms into our members (especially freshers) and ensure that all Pharmacy Students are up to date with their educational-cum-social programs.
• Work will other related international and national bodies to create international and national conference, congress and convention opportunities for our members to improve educational and social exposures.
• Work with all Universities with faculty of Pharmacy to source for more international accreditation from international licensing bodies in other to place the institutions in world standard, this will create a platform for a globally recognition of our diplomas.

CIU AND NEU FACULTY OF PHARMACY ACCREDITATION

Due to the recent formation of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacy Students Cyprus International University and Near East University chapters, the leaderships of the above chapters were not able to get the University authorities on the discussion table to invite the Pharmacists Council of Nigerian to their various faculties, hence on behalf of the Nigerian Pharmacy Students in Cyprus International University and Near East University, I want to solicit with the Council to accept accreditation invitation, as might be sent by the above mentioned Universities authority upon resumption of academic activities in the fall semester.

More so, I appeal with the Council to admit the few students that were graduated from Eastern Mediterranean University and Cyprus International University last semester into 6 weeks August orientation program arranged for foreign students and be allowed to write the licensing exams upon completion of the program.

STUDENTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND SPONSORSHIPS

Over the years, there have been series of student's educational programs in Nigeria and the African region, such as seminars, conferences, symposiums, workshops, conventions and research. NAPS has strived in sending delegates to such events, most recently was the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigerian Students National Convention held at the University of Nigeria NSukka last summer, NAPS sent 2 students (Ozioma Ezeofor and Evangeline Samuel)that played vital roles in seminar presentations.

The association use this opportunity to appeal with our Council to solicit on our behalf with our University to sponsor 2 or 3 Students for the 2016 PANS National Convention scheduled to hold on the 25^th of September to 2^nd October and more so support our other educational programs by sponsoring our outstanding students to similar events as this will improve our bonding and integration with our colleagues at home and neighboring African regions to keep close tabs on the development of the Pharmaceutical sector.

EXCHANGE PROGRAMS / TRAINEESHIP PLACEMENTS

We want to use this avenue to request that our University, through the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, if it's her power to create exchange program for some of our students that are home sick and need to spend some time with family and friends, this will allow them take some courses with our Nigerian Universities and  also allow them get familiar with the Nigerian Tertiary Educational System.

The association will also want to make an appeal with the Council to provide some of our students that obviously cannot find approved centers for traineeship/internship

COLLABORATION

To further enhance our relationship with colleagues from different levels and sphere, the Nigerian Association of Pharmacy Students North Cyprus went into affiliation with PANS National, International Pharmaceutical Students Federation African Regional Office (IPSF AfRO). The association is in constant search of related student's bodies of like interests for future educational search.

We therefore wish that the immediate past Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy Federal University of Maiguguri, Prof. Isa Huseinni to use the goodwill of his current position to connect us to the Pharmacy Students in UniMaid for collaboration.

NAPS NATIONAL CONVENTION

According to the PANS National constitution adopted temporarily by our association to gain guidelines on operations, NAPS Secretariat will annually rotate from one University to another, this is to encourage active participation of our members. The Tenure of NAPS Pioneer National Executive Council (NEC) will end in a National Convention that is proposed to hold between November/December 2016. We request that the Council honour our invitation in due time and also request that the Council connect us with the Pharmacists Society of Nigeria as seminars will be the core part of the convention.

APPRECIATION

On behalf of the entire Nigerian Pharmacy Students in North Cyprus, I want to use this platform to sincerelt appreciate the Rector, Vice Rectors, Dean Faculty of Pharmacy Eastern Mediterranean University for yielding to our request by inviting our Council here for the accreditation exercise.

Above all, we want to thank the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria despite their very tight schedule for making it to Cyprus during this unbearable weather to accredit our program. At this point, we only hope, pray and await a favourable result as this will instill more student's confidence in our faculty.

To my esteemed colleagues from CIU, NEU and EMU, we are reallt honored and privilege to serve you in our own little way and thank you for attending this "August Meeting" in July despite the scorching sun.

Thank you for being a member of the "Pharmily" of Professionals in Embyro

I remain Fredrick Edeh

NAPS Pioneer National President.