Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Plateau State Branch.

The Evolution of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria in Plateau State, 1970 to date.

1. Preamble:

The history of the practice of Pharmacy in Northern Nigeria, both in government and the private sectors dates back to the early 50s , through the missionary Doctors whose primary aim of coming to Nigeria, was Evangelism. They did so by establishing hospitals, clinics and schools. The hospitals and clinics had only Doctors with attendants recruited and trained from among communities, to serve as nurses and dispensers of drugs under the strict supervision of the Doctors.

Until the late 50s and early 60s, when the Ahmadu Bello University was established, the hospitals had no Pharmacists; so to talk of a society or an association to cater for the interest of Pharmacists was a far cry.

2. The School of Pharmacy Zaria/ Ahmadu Bello University.

Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardaunan Sokoto and the first Premier of Northern Nigeria, in his bid to close the educational gap between the North and the Southern part of the country, enacted the Northernization Policy which enabled the Northern Nigerian government to establish post-secondary institutions to cater specifically for students from the North.  Thus the following institutions were established:

• College of Arts and Science with a Campus at Samaru Zaria, which has now metamorphosed into the Main Campus of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria.
• School of Pharmacy with a campus at Tudun Wada , Zaria.
• The School of Agriculture Samaru, Zaria.
• The school of Basic Studies Funtuwa.

All the above institutions have now been amalgamated into Ahmadu Bello University Zaria.

The School of Pharmacy Zaria was equipped with Small-Scale Manufacturing Unit which trained post secondary  students to produce simple mixtures, syrups tablets and medicinal powders for the consumption of hospitals all over the government hospitals and clinics in the North. The graduates of the school of Pharmacy were also trained to dispense prescriptions from the Doctors and Matrons the hospitals.  

By 1961, the School of Pharmacy Ahmadu Bello University Zaria started the Programme which included all facet Pharmacy curriculum and expanded the course duration from the 3 to 5 years preceded by a 2 years prep-pharmacy course, thus admitting science students with at least 3 credits plus a credit in English.   

3. The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN)

The pioneer graduates of the School of Pharmacy ABU Zaria who were registered by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria were:

1.    Pharm. Yagba.- he owned a small pharmcy store at Mangu    Street Jos.

     2.Pharm. E. Inusa/Hamza  First female Pharmacist in the North – MOH Jos.

     3.Pharm. S S Umaru  –   had a retail Premises  at down town Jos.

4. B.J. Yarnap – Plateau Hospital
5. S. Jimoh – General Hospital
6. Yamusa – Private Practice at Bauchi Rd. Jos.
7. Alfred Amaniremi – West African Drugs Limited Jos, later Amari Chemists at Potato Market Jos
8. Timap, Miner – Arewa Chemists Jos. And later Zitta Chemists Jos
9. A.C. Botsha – General Hospital Jos, later HSMB.
10. L L. Buenyen -Plateau Hospital Jos, later Ciba-Geigy Lagos.
11. Ndamadu General Hospital Jos
12. A. G. Salihu Medical Stores, later Sali Pharmacy, Jos.

With just a hand full of pharmacists in Plateau State most of whom were Government staff, it was difficult to form a branch of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria. However, with the abolition of the Northernization Policy at ABU, the Pharmacy course became open to all qualified students from Nigeria and beyond. The State had Pharmacists from all over Nigeria and beyond. More Pharmacies were registered and so, there was a compelling need to join the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.

The Successive Chairmen of the Plateau State who serve a maximum of 3years,, beginning from 1985, are as follows:

1. Alfred Amanerimi FPSN
2. Lawrence Buenyen FPSN
3. Timap Miner (late) FPSN
4. Tony Egwonwu
5. Simon Gongyi FPSN
6. Bayo Adeniyi
7. Abel. Eyigege FPSN
8. Nelson Ochekpe FPSN
9. Shehu Sheni FPSN
10. Michel Sani
11. Fabian Agwo
12. Dauda. Dangiwa FPSN
13. Kaneng Pam