An editor with the Renaissance Online Magazine has been elected as the new Assistant National Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).

In a keenly contested election held during the 94th Annual National Conference of the Society in Port Harcourt, Pharm. Ikenna Mbata, a Merit Award Winner of the PSN and the State Secretary of the PSN in Imo State, emerged with 954 votes to become the Assistant National Secretary, while his opponent Pharm. Ehitare Patrick polled 790 votes.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after his swearing-in on Saturday, November 6, 2021, the visibly elated assistant scribe thanked Nigerian pharmacists for having faith in his abilities and for electing him. In his words, “The easy task of campaigning is over, now to the real meat of the game, which is to deliver on campaign promises.”

In the elections for other positions contested for, Prof. Cyril Usifoh emerged as President with a total of 855 votes, while Dr. Lolu Ojo got 552 votes, Pharm. Tanko Ayuba got 273 votes and Dr. Daniel Orumwense got 91 votes.

Prof. Cyril Odianose Usifoh, FPSN is a Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at the University of Benin. Coincidentally, the last time the National Conference of the PSN held in Port Harcourt in 1994, it produced Prof Ogunlana, also a Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry. And that was also the last time an academic Pharmacist held the post of Number One Pharmacist in Nigeria before the emergence of Prof. Usifoh.

The results for other contestants for other offices were as follows:

Pharm. Ibrahim Binji emerged Deputy President North (DPN) with 799 votes, followed by Pharm. Yahaya Hamza who got 567 votes and Pharm. Sani Bello who got 365 votes.

For Deputy President South (DPS) Dr. Egbuna Udeorah won a total of 772 votes followed by Pharm. Chima Ogbu, who got 670 votes and Pharm. Agbojo Olukemi who polled 311 votes.

Dr. Obianuju Onwuatuegwu who polled the highest number of votes in the election got 974 votes followed by Pharm. (Dr.) Kingsley Amibor who got 658 votes to emerge Unofficial Members . Prof. Bolajoko Ajoke Aina polled 598 votes and Hon. Dr. Daba Boyle polled 355 votes.

Dr. Felix Ndiukwu emerged opposed for the post of National Publicity Secretary.

Pharm. Ikenna Mbata, the new PSN Assistant National Secretary, is an old boy of Government Secondary School, Owerri. It will be recalled that another distinguished old boy of the school, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, FPSN, OFR, MON, NPOM, is the immediate past President of PSN, having just completed his three-year term in office.

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