Posted on: Tue 11-06-2019

The National Chairman of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) has called for greater harmony between health care workers in Nigeria. He made the call at a send forth for a former National Chairman of AHAPN, Pharm. Yakubu Maji Isah FPCPharm recently in Minna, Niger State. The ceremony was jointly organized by members of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN) Niger State Branch in collaboration with the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Niger State Branch to commemorate the successful retirement of Pharm. Maji Isah from the civil service of Niger State having clocked the mandatory retirement age of 60 years.

The ceremony which held at NASFAT Hotel, Minna, had in attendance Pharm. Haruna Aliyu, a retired Permanent Secretary in the state as Chairman of the occasion, Pharm. Mohammed M. Alkali, former Speaker Niger State House of Assembly as Father of the Day, Dr. Ibrahim Tiffin (Retired Permanent Secretary) as Special Guest. Others were Dr. Abdullahi Imam, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Transport, Dr. Mohammed Makusidi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health (Special Guest of Honour) ably represented by Pharm. (Dr.) Ahmed Ndagi, Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, Niger State. Also present was Pharm. Femi Ogumade, Vice Chairman PSN Niger State who stood in for the PSN Chairman and Dr. Ibrahim Sule a former Commissioner, Ministry of Health, Niger State.

Others were Dr. Mohammed B. Usman, Executive Secretary, Niger State Contributory Health Agency, Dr. Mohammed Audi, Executive Director Niger State Drug Management Agency, Pharm. Usman Ndanusa Babandako, Acting Executive Director, State Primary Health Care Development Agency (SPHCDA), Dr. Baba Adamu, Director General, Niger State Agency for the Control of AIDS (SACA) and Mr. Shuaibu Mohammed, Director of Administration, Niger State Ministry of Health and several others.

In his welcome address, the Chairman of AHAPN Niger State, Pharm. Shehu Attahiru Malagi thanked everyone for coming from far and wide to grace the occasion. He took everyone through memory lane of the distinguished services offered the state by the retiree, assuring them that Pharm. Maji Isah was worthy of the honour. The Vice Chairman of PSN Niger State spoke in the same vein.

Also speaking, the former Commissioner for Health Niger State, Dr. Ibrahim Sule commended the humility, hard work and dedication to duty of Pharm. Maji Isah, adding that he truly deserved to be celebrated. The Executive Director, SPHCDA, Pharm. Usman Ndanusa Babandako said he and Pharm. Yakubu had come a long way, describing Yakubu as a truly remarkable pharmacist.

Former speaker, Niger state House of Assembly, Pharm. Mohammed Alkali commended Pharm. Yakubu Maji Isah for his dedication and commitment to work while in service.

In his response, the former National Chairman of AHAPN thanked all the dignitaries for the encomiums poured on him. He especially commended all health care professionals present at the event and commended the robust harmony operating between health care workers in the state, describing it as one of the most cordial in the country. He thanked all and sundry for making out time to honour him on his special day, and for their numerous gifts. He encouraged other health care professionals in other states to emulate the cordial relationship between pharmacists and other health care workers in Niger State.

Speaking earlier, the current National Chairman of AHAPN, Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Amibor FPCPharm commended Pharm. Yakubu Maji Isah for the innovations he brought into office as national Chairman of AHAPN, especially his introduction of Peer Review Mechanism among hospital and administrative pharmacists. He said Pharm. Yakubu Maji Isah was instrumental to his emergence as National Chairman, referring to him as mentor and king maker and wished him well in retirement.

Pharm. Yakubu Maji Isah was born on 25th March 1958, had his primary school education at Gaba, secondary education at Government College Bida, higher education at Medical School Sombor Yugoslavia, University of Technology Novisad Yugoslavia and University of Belgrade, also in Yugoslavia.

A Consultant Pharmacist and Fellow of the West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm), Pharm. Maji Isah had his internship at General Hospital, Suleija and National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) at Family Health Centre, Okellewo, Abeokuta, Ogun State. He started his work career at General Hospital, Kagara, rising to become Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Hospital Management Board Minna, Niger State in 2013. He became Executive Director, Niger State Drugs and Hospital Consumable Management Agency, a position he occupied till he retired in 2018.

Pharm. Yakubu Maji Isah was one time Chairman of then Nigerian Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists (NAHAP) now AHAPN, Secretary, Niger State Task Force on Counterfeit and Fake Drugs, Vice Chairman, PSN Niger State and National Chairman of AHAPN among others. He is a Distinguished Service Award (DSA) recipient of AHAPN and a member of International Pharmacists Federation (FIP).

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