 |
Group Photo: Mentors and Participants of the PSN-YPG Mentorship Program |
The main auditorium of Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital buzzed with energy on Saturday, September 13, 2025, as pharmacists, leaders, and students came together for a historic event: the official launch of the PSN-YPG/PSN Kano Chapter Mentorship Program. This landmark collaboration between the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria-Young Pharmacists Group (PSN-YPG) and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) Kano State Chapter is more than just a ceremony; it's the beginning of a new chapter for the profession, bridging the wisdom of experienced practitioners with the ambition of the next generation.
A Bridge Between Generations
Under the theme “Mentoring the Next Generation of Pharmacists,” this program is a bold initiative designed to cultivate a structured mentor-mentee relationship across the diverse fields of pharmacy, including hospital practice, academia, industry, community pharmacy, and regulatory affairs. It aims to equip young pharmacists with not only technical skills but also the crucial values of leadership, entrepreneurship, and ethical practice. The event was brought to life by a team of dedicated leaders, with Dr. Murtala Isa Umar, FPSN, Chairman of PSN Kano State, serving as the Chief Host, and Pharm. Salma Adamu Dangwani, Coordinator of PSN-YPG Kano State, as the Host. The Chairman of the Occasion was Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai, FPSN, a distinguished figure known as Kachallan Kano.
 |
| Snapshot of Participants during the PSN-YPG Mentorship Program |
A Gathering of Pharmacy Leaders
The event drew an impressive roster of speakers and dignitaries, showcasing the collective support for this initiative. The Guest of Honour was Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmad, FPSN, the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), while Dr. Mohammed Musa Zango, FPSN, Chairman of the Fatah Foundation, also attended as a Guest of Honour. The Special Guest of Honour was Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, FPSN, President of the PSN, who was represented by Pharm. Aisha Isyaku Tukur, the Deputy President of PSN North.
Other prominent speakers who gave formal addresses included Kassim Idrissa Ibrahim, Coordinator of NAFDAC, Kano; Abubakar Idris Ahmed, Commandant of NDLEA, Kano; Pharm. Siyaka Onimisi Idris, Chairman of NAIP, Kano; and Pharm. Muh'd Tukur Sulaiman, Chairman of ACPN and CEO of Arak Pharmacy. The academic community was well-represented by Dr. Abdullahi Rabiu Abubakar, a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, BUK, and Pharm. Zuwaira Ma’aruf Y., Chairperson of the West Africa Postgraduate College of Pharmacist (WAPCP) Northwest chapter.
More distinguished speakers in attendance to support the program included Pharm. Hasiya Ladan, Head of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Kano; Pharm. Hamisu Ringim, Founder of DBN & Exovia Pharma; Alhaji Sayyid Lawal Atana, Managing Director of LATNAS Pharma, LTD; and Pharm. Isa Dahiru, Founder/CEO of Specx Care LTD. Also present as guest were former leaders of the PSN Kano State Chapter, Pharm. Ibrahim Jinjiri and Pharm. Sani Ali Yusuf, alongside Pharm. S.I. Ahmed.
The program's framework, which detailed how mentees would be paired with mentors, was formally unveiled. In a powerful and symbolic moment, mentors and mentees stood together, pledging their commitment to shared learning and professional growth. Interactive panel sessions and discussions followed, providing a platform for young pharmacists to voice their challenges and for mentors to offer insights gained from years of practice.
 |
Participants at the PSN-YPG Mentorship Program |
Participant Reflections and a Call to Action
The event served as a crucial reminder of the importance of mentorship in retaining young talent, particularly in a country facing the threat of brain drain. Prof. Yakasai shared a powerful message with the aspiring professionals, urging them to be ambitious and to think about their future. “Be ambitious as a young pharmacist: ‘What will I be in the next ten years?’,” he challenged them, adding a powerful affirmation: “Remember, when it comes to drugs; you are the expert.”
The impact of the program was immediately evident in the feedback from attendees. Yahya Lawan Muhammad described the experience as “more than my expectations,” noting that it encouraged his career path in global health and community pharmacy and helped him network with experienced professionals. Makiyyu Ibrahim Sanka called his experience “truly exciting and transformative,” highlighting how the life stories shared by mentors, particularly Pharm. Hamisu Hassan Ringim, emphasized the importance of networking and a proactive mindset. He was also motivated to invest in mentorship after hearing how successful professionals like Dr. M. M. Zango, Pharm. Murtala Isah, and Sayyid Lawal Atamma credited their achievements to the guidance of their mentor, Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Yakasai.
The day concluded on a note of palpable optimism, with certificates of attendance issued to all participants. For many in the hall, this was more than just a launch; it was the beginning of a transformative journey. The PSN-YPG/PSN Kano Chapter Mentorship Program isn’t just about shaping individual careers; it’s about redefining the future of pharmacy in Kano State and, by extension, across Nigeria.
As attendees left the auditorium, exchanging handshakes and promises of future engagement, it was clear the program had already started its work—igniting a renewed sense of community and shared purpose that will guide the next generation of pharmacists.
Social Plugin