HISTORY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CLINICAL PHARMACY AND PHARMACY MANAGEMENT
Following the appointment of Acting Dean Prof. C.O. Esimone on October 2nd, 2009, the NUC team visited the faculty for a pre-accreditation visit on December 2nd-3rd, 2009. On Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010, Prof. C.O. Esimone was elected as the substantive Dean of the Faculty. This was followed by a visit from the Pharmacist’s Council of Nigeria advisory and an accreditation exercise conducted by the NUC team from February 28th to Monday, March 1st, 2010. On Wednesday, December 15, 2010, the Faculty was granted interim accreditation status by the Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria, with the Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Management identified as one of the faculty’s key departments for academic training. The department initially had foundational staff members, including Drs. Samuel Uzodinma, Brian Ogbonna, Sunday Nduka, Charles Ezenduka, and Obinna Ekwunife. Over time, the department has grown to have a staff strength of over twenty academic staff members, ranging from Graduate Assistants to Professors. The department has had the following Heads of Department: Dr. Uzodinma Samuel, Prof. E. Ilodigwe, Prof. E. Anyika, Prof. (Mrs) P. Osadebe, Dr. Obinna Ekwunife, Dr. Sunday Nduka, Dr. Ogbonna Brian, and currently Dr. (Mrs) Maureen Anetoh.
The department established its postgraduate programs for MPharm and PhD students in 2009. The Maiden Induction/Oath-taking of pioneer Pharmacy Graduates was held in 2011. Since then, it has graduated numerous students from both programs. Some of the department’s postgraduate graduands have pursued careers in academia, such as Dr. Ezenduka Charles (Pioneer) at UNN, Dr. Anetoh Maureen at NAU, Dr. Okpalamma Nneoma at COOU Igbariam and Dr Charles Okafor at Griffith University. In 2020, the department expanded its scope by incorporating a Logistics and Supply Chain Management postgraduate program. Many academic staff members have participated in exchange programs, prestigious postdoctoral research programs such as the Alexander von Humboldt fellowship and Takemi Fellowship at Harvard University, and collaborative initiatives with universities in Europe, USA, Canada, Asia, and other African countries. The department’s staff members have received grants and recommendations from various local and international bodies. The department focuses on areas such as Pharmacy Practice and Management, Pharmaceutical Care, Public Health Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapeutics, and Clinical Pharmacokinetics.
Aligned with the university’s Vision 200, which aims to position itself as a global leader in the 21st century through best practices and academic excellence, the department has established several local and international collaborations, further strengthening its staff capacity. Additional clinical preceptors have been added to facilitate Clinical Rotation in the new era of the PharmD program. The department has expanded its office space for staff, simulation laboratories, clinical rotation sites, model pharmacies, and equipment to enhance its capacity, effectiveness, and overall output.