WE CAN ONLY JOIN HANDS AS MEN OF HONOR, NOT AS MEN OF CONTROVERSIES! My One Cent…
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ALUMNI AND STUDENTS OF THE FACULTY OF
PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA.
25thJune, 2023
It is no news that the students of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University
of Nigeria Nsukka took to the streets of the university two days ago (23rd June 2023)
for about 6 hours to peacefully demonstrate and register their displeasures about the
high financial burden and poor learning conditions that they have been subjected to in
the Faculty. The students convened in front of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Complex, from where they matched to the security department of the University, then
the Works Department and finally to the Vice Chancellor’s office.
It is not surprising to me that such an action happened so fast. In fact, those of us who
graduated from the faculty about three months ago saw it as an action quite long
overdue (!), not just because of the financial burdens but also for the current Faculty
administration’s known reluctance (you can as well call it “modus operandi”) in
engaging the students meaningfully. Of course, it is no news to us that students are
treated with disdain and almost with no regards in the past one year.
The ‘021 class who got inducted few months ago are living witnesses.
I am in a position to speak to these issues because I experienced them first hand. What
is more? I was privileged to have served as the President of the students’ association,
the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS) UNN from 20212022
and handed over on 22nd December, 2022.
My experiences and those of my classmates in the last few months before our
graduation made us to realize how students have been turned into money-making
enterprise.
Those experiences include:
1.Having to carry out our undergraduate research in laboratories deficient of
equipment. In fact, in my case, I had to send samples of my formulations to ABU
Zaria for analysis, of course at my own cost. The same thing happened to many of
my classmates. It is wrong to say that the Faculty lack these equipment; some of
those equipment have been donated by the Alumni but are either restricted from
use or still unboxed. Why then were they donated in the first place? It is now a
norm in the Faculty for undergraduate students to spend as much as 150,000 –
200,000 to conduct their undergraduate project works at UNN Pharmacy School.
This above is the first financial challenge to be faced by any finalist who had
supposedly paid a development fee of ₦20,000 every session for at least 3 years.
2.In preparation for our induction into the Pharmacy profession on the 14th of April
2023, the Faculty requested us to pay a sum of ₦70,000 for the ceremony. We
were informed of this payment on the 28th of March 2023 and were given until
3rd April 2023 to make the payment (barely one week). With the short notice and
the amount of money involved, our class decided to meet with the Dean to plead
for a reduction in the price.
The class sent delegates to meet with the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. V. I. Onyishi
on 30th March 2023. At the meeting, the Dean threatened to further increase the
price so we could haggle and maybe end the bidding at ₦75,000. Disappointed
with the outcome of the meeting, the delegates conveyed the message back to the
class. We needed to get inducted so we could move on with our lives (We were
supposed to graduate in 2021 but ASUU and COVID strike wouldn’t allow us). So,
we had to pay the ₦70,000. We latergathered that the professional levy by the
Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) for induction is ₦20,000 per student. Yet, we
were made to pay an additional ₦50,000 which the Faculty explained to be for the
printing of Book of Abstract, Programme of event and other preparations for the
ceremony (such as transportation and accomodation of PCN staff as well as
renting of University hall).
It is important to note that we were 316 students that got inducted, and the
payment was enforced in the sense that “no payment, no induction”.
If the 316 students paid ₦70,000, each it would have totaled ₦22,120,000 out of
which the Faculty must have remitted ₦6,320,000 (that is ₦20,000 per student) to
the Council and having a balance of ₦15,800,000 for whatever they deemed right
to spend on.
It was indeed a traumatizing experience.
This is what you get presently in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UNN.
3.Prior to our induction ceremony, most of us already applied for internship
placement in different institutions and establishments and we were invited for
interview. But since we were yet to be inducted as at that time, we needed a cover
letter from the Dean of the Faculty, introducing us and stating our academic
standing to the institutions we applied to. Surprisingly, the dean asked us to pay
₦1,000 each for such cover letters. Sadly, many of those who paid for this letter
didn’t get theirs on time to attend those interviews due to the unnecessary and
inexplainable protocols to collecting the letter, and partly due to the Dean’s
scarcity (He’s always in the office but never willing to meet students. In fact, I do
not know of any Dean who spends long hours in the office as the present Dean of
the faculty, but, sadly, he is not readily available even while on seat).
Demanding a student who pays development levy of ₦20,000 every session to pay
an extra ₦1,000 to be identified by his Faculty in my opinion is really ridiculous.
But, then, we had little or no choice then than to pay.
4.Our Oath Taking/ Induction experience:
The oathtaking and induction ceremony was a significant event for us, as it marked
the official recognition of our entry into the pharmacy profession. We had traveled
from various locations, including our homes and workplaces, to attend the
ceremony, which was a planned movement with predefined dates. At the interactive
session we had with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria say before the ceremony, we
were informed in advance to make copies of our oath certificates and provisional
licenses upon receiving them. Those photocopies were to be submitted to the Dean.
Despite the prior instruction to make copies, the Dean of the faculty unexpectedly
instructed the retrieval of the documents during the ceremony. This action caught us
by surprise and left us without thosecrucial certificates and licenses. The reasons
for this sudden retrieval were not clearly communicated, causing frustration and
confusion among us.
We were however informed that our documents would be returned to us promptly
after the retrieval. However,the certificates and licenses were not returned until the
19th of April, five days later. This delay created significant challenges for us, as we
were unable to travel or engage in important professional activities that required the
presence of these essential documents.
The withholding of the oath certificates and licenses had severe repercussions for us.
Some individuals had internship interviews scheduled for Monday, the 17th of
April, which they ultimately missed due to the unavailability of the necessary
documents. This setback not only hindered their professional growth but also
caused financial implications, as many of us had to pay additional accommodation
fees to extend their stay in order to retrieve their licenses.
On the day the documents were to be collected, we faced additional challenges
during the distribution process. The Dean’s office opened at 8 am, but distribution
did not commence until around 3 pm, resulting in hours of waiting. As a result,
participants had to stand in queues for anextended period, with some waiting until
late at night to receive their licenses. This prolonged process caused significant
inconvenience and discomfort to the participants.
Throughout the entire incident, the Dean showed no remorse or regard for the
inconveniences we faced. The lack of empathy and communication worsened o
experience and created a perception of indifference towards our concerns.
The withholding of oath certificates and provisional licenses by the Dean during the
oath-taking and induction ceremony resulted in significant inconveniences for us.
The delay in returning the documents, missed internship interviews, additional
accommodation expenses, and the lengthy distribution process caused frustration
and financial hardships.
Adequate communication, empathy, and prompt actions are essential in ensuring a
smooth and hassle-free process for future oath-taking ceremonies.
TAKEAWAY FROM THE STUDENTS’ DEMONSTRATION, WHAT IS THE
PROBLEM?
1.POWER OUTAGE IN THE FACULTY BUILDING FOR ALMOST 4 MONTHS
The Faculty building had not had electricity for almost four months in a row.
The disturbing part of it is that there is electricity in other parts of the University
except for the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences building. What is more?
The Faculty under Prof. K. C. Ofokansi-led administration erected a generator house
which cost about ₦8,000,000; bought a 300kva lister at the cost of ₦26,000,000 with
installation/ connection cost of about ₦5,000,000 (cost of the accessories for the
connection included). Wondering how I got to know this information in details? That
was how closely the students were carriedalong by the past Faculty administration.
Now, was this capitalintensive project a waste of capital? Was the listerpurchasedfor
decoration? Was the lister house erected for esthetics?
In these past few months, the students had to prepare and write exams in darkness.
How did they manage to study? How do they carry out practicals? In some cases, they
had to buy fuel to power a small generator. I forgot to mention that I bought fuel at
some points during the practical stage of my undergraduate research.
Are students who pay ₦20,000 development levy every session not entitled to good
living and study conditions? I beg to disagree.
2.THE COST OF MANUAL/ HANDBOOK FOR PRACTICALS BEING SOLD
AT EXORBITANT PRICES.
A pharmacy student registers for at least 4 practical courses in a semester; it is upto 6
practical courses in some cases, per semester. To understand the context of this
exorbitant prices, one ofthe departments in the Faculty sells their practical
guide/report book for ₦6,500 while another department in the same Faculty whose
manual/handbook is an A5 sized black and white print of less than 40 pages with one
color separation cover design and accompanying 60 leaves exercise book sells theirs
for ₦3,800. Imagine a student having to spend such amount for about 6 practical
courses, where does the money come from?
Shouldn’t the poor breathe?
Interestingly, this rise in the cost of manuals started in my time as the President of the
Students Association, with the departments of Pharmaceutical Technology and
Industrial Pharmacy as well as the Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry leading
the price increment.
I met with the then HOD of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Assoc. Prof.
M.O Agbo to plead for a reduction in price. After much deliberations, he assured me
that he was going to look into it.
In the same vein, I met the then HOD of Pharmaceutical Technology and Industrial
Pharmacy Department, Prof. Ikechukwu V. Onyishi and pleaded for a reduction in the
price of the manual. He admitted that the cost of production was not that high, but
since they had no allocation from the university management, they therefore rely on
the money realized from thesales of these manuals/handbooks to run the department.
I pleaded for at least a slight reduction to a fairer price but he wouldn’t agree. It is
therefore disturbing to learn that the same department of Pharmaceutical Technology
and Industrial Pharmacy has once again, just within a short time, increased the cost of
the manual/handbook, with every other department following suit. This goes a long
way to portray how “anything can go” in our dear Faculty.
Meanwhile, during the homecoming of the 1985 set in October 2021, I mentioned the
issue of the cost of manuals to the President of the 1985 set, Pharm. Chuzzy
Chukwuanu. But at that time, they weren’t at the prices at which they are being sold
today. If we considered them expensive then, how much more now.
3.CLERKSHIP FEE/ FIELD TRIP FEES
It is sad to learn the final year students have been asked to pay the sum of ₦23,000
each for their clerkship at UNN. This money includes the cost of transporting these
students to and from UNTH for their clerkship, as well payment to the preceptors.
One may be forced to ask, what exactly are we developing with the development fee
of ₦20,000 that each student pays every session if the Faculty cannot transport her
students for clerkship? Must students be levied? It is even more worrisome that a
Faculty as big as ours do not have a coaster bus with which to convey our students f
clerkship. Yet, we are aware that the current administration of the faculty charged as
high as N750,000 (minimum) to N1,500,000 to prospective students who applied to
transfer to Pharmacy from other departments and institutions. With over 200 students
having successfully been transferred in the current session, I leave it to readers to
estimate the total income to the Faculty in the past one year.
Similarly, same final year students have been asked to pay the sum of ₦10,000 for a
field trip organized by the Pharmacognosy Department. While these academic and
extra-curricular activities are much welcomed, again, is there no other way to go
about it to reduce cost?
At the interactive sessions we had with the Alumni during the Homecoming/ 50th
Anniversary of our Faculty, I made this plea to the Alumni body to help us with a bus
to ease these inconveniences. They promised to work on that, and I believe the project
is still underway. This bus when donated would go a long way to address the issue of
clerkship.
4.THE CONTROVERSIAL DEVELOPMENT LEVY
The Development levy was introduced during Prof. Anthony Attamaled
administration in 2017/2018 academic session and,at that time, it was verbally
communicated and agreed (with Pharm. Ugochukwu Ezinwanne as the PANS
President) to be a one-time payment.It was also stated that a student representative
would be a co-signatory to the account into which the money would be paid.The
enforcement of the payment however, continued for two successive academic sessions
up to the third year when I became the president of the association. At that time, the
students raised much concerns about the payment and questions as to when the
payment ought to stop. This made me lead my executives to meet with the then Dean,
Prof. K. C Ofokansi. He told us that the payment predated his administration.
However, he assured us that there was University clearance for the payment to be
made for 5 successive academic sessions (2017/2018 2021/2022).
The big question students are asking now is, “How are you spending our money, when
we are not feeling the impact?” In other words, they want accountability for those
monies paid, and a proper documentation to ensure the payment ends this academic
session to avoid further payments beyond this academic session.It isevenmore
surprisingthat Dean is presently the sole signatory to the account.
SUMMARY
Evidently, the students are not being carried along in the affairs of the faculty, and it is
this poor communication and little or no regards for students and their representatives,
among other factors, that triggered the outburst in this way.
Surprisingly, it is sad to learn that the students are already being threatened to study harder for the next exam as, according to the report of what the Dean told them, “they had made enough enemies in the faculty through their peaceful demonstration”. What this statement is supposed to mean is what I cannot wrap my head around. Such a threat coming from people who are supposed to look into the concerns raised is even more worrisome. Oh well, we sit back and watch. While I commend and congratulate the PANSITES ably led by Comr. Dickson Onyedikachi Ugwu for their bold step in registering their displeasure through this
outburst which was peacefully demonstrated and has now gotten the attention of
relevant authorities and people of goodwill, I also wish to point out that I know for a
fact that the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nigeria has one of the
best Alumni body in the entire University who are ever ready to assist the students in
whatever way possible to create an enabling and conducive study environment. So, I
urge you to reach out whenever there is need to. Just like St. Paul, we would always
come over to Macedonia to help you.
Once again, be assured of my deepest respect and highest regards.
Yours in solidarity,
Ezeodimegwu, Augustus Chukwuebuka (B.Pharm, Nig), MPSN
PRESIDENT, PANS UNN (2020/2021 ACADEM
