Pharmacy Induction/Oath Taking Ceremony In Nigeria Universities

A cross section of pharmacy students during an induction ceremony

Induction is an oath taking ceremony organised by Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (P.C.N) for all successful graduating students of pharmacy schools across the nation.

It is a joyous occasion celebrated by the graduates with friends, family and well-wishers.

The dean through the vice chancellor (V.C) schedule a date with PCN to hold this grand shaking event that takes place at most twice in a year in any institution. The date is announced to the graduates as well as the recommended fee to be paid. All graduates are expected to pay up on or before a said date or carry over the ceremony.

The ceremony can technically be divided into two categories viz; official and non-official. The official ceremony involves activities that must be done by the student during the ceremony while the non-official ceremony can be said to be those things that have to do with celebration organised by the student individually or collectively which is not compulsory.
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Official Activities

The activities are scheduled to hold in two days. However, before then, students have to visit the organizer to get access to their induction gown, a single invitation card to the launch-on ceremony and a banner to invite all and sundry.

Day One (Launch-on Or dinner Night)

The student is expected to arrive before the starting time, well dressed with his invited guest. All students are arranged to sit at a particular place, which is closed to the front row. There is no need for wearing the induction gown today.

Lectures will be held on different aspects of the induction as to how students should behave during and after the induction. This include how to fill forms for the induction as well as to submit them and to whom. Tthree forms will be passed around. Form F to be filled with name of inductee, permanent home adress and matriculation number which is to be submitted. The name here will be use on the provisional registration form and oath form. The second form given is the form F/2 containing three blue coloured form. This must be kept and submitted to your internship perceptor when you got a place for internship.  The other is attendance register containing name of every other inductee inducteee present.
Three books will be shared to all the inductees which is PCN code if conduct book, internship logbook and internship manual.  All aspects of pharmacy activities during the internship placement will be discussed in details. Some few lectures on other pharmacy related topics by pharmacist from different sectors will be conducted.

The day is rounded off with item seven (in case you missed it) while the whole show ends. But that is not all for the day as a dinner night will be organised by the school to get to meet officials from PCN and other functionaries. It is also expected that all students attend with an appropriate attire befitting of such occasions. Mostly, features interactive discussion with the registrar.

Day Two (Induction/Oath Taking)

All celebrants must be at the venue before the start of the occasion. Their attire must be cooperate with their well ironed out induction gown. They sit at a place arranged for them usually closed to the front row.

The top dignitaries that are usually observed in all induction ceremonies are the dean of pharmacy school that is inducting, the registrar from PCN, VC and others.

All formalities like prayers are observed after which the high light of the occasion where the registrar gives his/her speech. The swearing in/oath taking is conducted by him. All students in attendance accepts all the terms of service by reading aloud together with the PCN registrar the pharmacist oath with an affirmative yes. Each students is called out to have a hand shake with the registrar after collecting their certificate of provisional licence. The best graduating student is awarded cash with books worth that amount also.

Another member of PCN will give a speech on what the fresh pharmacists will experience in their practice and what to avoid. They will be given various forms, which should be filled out and submitted accordingly at the right time and to the right place/person. 

The forms are:

Form F: Oath certificate with name of inductee already typed to be completed by student.

Form G: Certificate provision of registration written and endorsed by the registrar with permanent home address to be included during interactive session.

Form F/2: Application to commence internship program.

Form D: Certificate of experience, which is given to the management of the internship centre to be filled by them. Care must be taken when submitting this form as you must be certain you are not planning to change center.

A pharmacist will give a keynote address on a topic relevant to pharmacy while other dignitaries like the VC will address the graduates and their family.
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Unofficial

At the end of the program, inductees will be privilege to take photographs with the registrar and VC in groups. This is not be the end for the celebration for all as the gbedu just dey start. Canopies and chairs may be hired at locations suitable for the celebrants with lots of foods and drinks organised by the celebrants. Music and other side attractions are not left out until body break o.

Whichever way any one decides to celebrate the rest of the day is up to him/her. However, the next battle is ‘how to get a good location for the internship program?’

No matter what, congratulations to all who gets to this stage.

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