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I stare at the blank word document on my hp mini screen wondering how to put this story together, the song “I AM LEGEND” plays in my head…The beautiful song by our very own multi talented cohort Arueyingho Oristetimeyin Victoria¹—Timeyin as fans know her…I guess I’d tell it how I tell it…Unique Uniport….Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences

2011: January 2011 was the start of lectures to the best of my knowledge, registration was rounded up in late 2010…The extremely hot, stench filled warehouse called MBA 1 and its even hotter sister MBA 2 were our lecture venues…I met Ibude Blessing Ogechi² destroying CHEM 130.1 amidst the chaos of CO₂ poisoning, her brain could function in any weather. I’m certain she could read on the sun…The almost daily meetings of fresh pharmacy students behind the warehouse pre-led the Uluocha Ogechi³ manipulated course rep elections (Her election skills had her emerge unopposed PANS Secretary General much later)…It was during one of these meetings that I identified a tall beauty Memeh Tolu Ewere⁴ as my first Uniport crush and boy did I crush on multiple Ofirima delicacies before I met my ultimate and final crush, a super brilliant wood colored Akahomen Martha Irefo^{5 –}(Known for her calmness and grace). It indeed took months of touring the emotional wilderness…It didn’t take long till I made a number of great friends, top on the list Udumukwu Cynthia Ijeoma⁶ (The perfect example of a lady), Kolawole Timilehin Jemima⁷ (Winner best smile or more appropriately happiest smile, I know right? Some other smiles don’t look so happy), Okeke Ukamaka Blessing⁸ (Bulletproof-immune to cow dung) and Onyia Chiazor Prince⁹ (Our very own Karl Lagerfeld).

We went through the year pretty much running around Abuja campus with the enthusiasm of secondary school children, a few of us managing to show grace and maturity…I recall a calm looking boy who walked like the entire world was waiting for him- Obalum Vincent Izuchukwu¹⁰ (Basketball player and model of his own photo world). You could find us in the stench rooms, physics Laboratory, PS classrooms, arena and wherever we were asked to be…Almost forgot, a lot of us frequented the library, we were not going to take chances of falling to the infamous Pharmacy reaper…Some got indoctrinated into the night class frenzy…It is said “the gods only let us absorb knowledge at night.”

2012: After the tachycardia that came with awaiting our results and the nostalgia that followed seeing it, a good number of us were confirmed students of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences…We were saying bye to stench rooms, we were moving ahead, forward to our new house…A house even more haunted and lined with challenges than the one we just left…Moving to our much cozier dungeon (faculty auditorium, had its own ventilation issues) opened my eyes to notice many more of my colleagues…There was super beautiful Okoye Adaora Chisom¹¹ (Miss Pharmacy, I think I wrote her a poem or two), sexy sized Nwachukwu Ijeoma Pretty¹² (Name says all) and her side kick Ugwu Nneka Njideka¹³ (Miss Ginger Jajalight), Okafor Nkolika¹⁴ (Most gracious writer ever liveth), Asian doll Anaka Sylverline¹⁵ and of course my darling peaceful faced friend Omofurieta Ochuko Emmanuela ¹⁶ known also as Chukky or Survivor (Heartthrob of many Adam appled folks). Our first legendary baby arrived via Mrs. Ihejiekwu Chimaoge Rita ¹⁷, another followed in our final moments together. Mrs. Rita served as a total inspiration to us all. “You can make it even with the weight of another human being” we were made to think.

Lectures in our new home went along fine…We enjoyed top notch jokes from our retired fathers Professors O.K Udeala and E.O.P Agbakwuru, idealism lessons from Dr. Ken Ugoeze and the pleasures of being taught by the Harts of Uniport- One an action-potential-obsessed-make-the-ladies-salivate man and the other an intelligent ladies’ man comedian…Amadi Chima Meshack¹⁸ quickly established himself as the 001 of the class by insisting on occupying the very first seat and engaging our lecturers in question and answer battle of wits…We got to crown Anaege Adaugo Ethel ¹⁹our master stenographer (fast, accurate and neat), many owe their academic success (note-wise) to her…

We all participated in our very first PANS week and it was awesome with Onyenuforo Precious²⁰  accepting the crown from Adaora as Miss Pharmacy (She would go on to be the longest serving queen). Next we witnessed the great battle of Igala and Kingsley @ PANS presidential elections with Sam-Ozini Perezidei Ayibablayefa²¹ showing us his great political campaign prowess.

Community service went well; we cleansed Alakahia community of worms…What else do I remember from that year? Well we all got a taste of PCT zeros (few remained invincible), pharmaceutical sciences showed us its colors. “The race clearly became for the tough.”

2013: New year, new level, new resolutions/resolves…Nnadozie Chinonye Gift²² emerged as our assistant class rep and boy did she make this job her own, excellent assistant…She succeeded in painting the picture that she was about 3000 yards of wife material…We got to adapt to most lecturers by this time…We knew not to come late for Dan John’s class and we knew not to fidget when fearsome Dr. Brown was in class; this man got Port-harcourtphilic Pepple Angelinah Richard²³ (real smart lady) to admit in tense form that she was stupid; Umemba Chizoba Jennifer²⁴ (lady cute) had to employ her matrix skills to dodge his bullet marker. Dr. Brown really did frighten the legends. This was a short year school wise as we all had to endure 6 months apart just so our government would notice that education needed money…

2014: We returned to complete the session, ASUU and the government reached some form of compromise…It turned out we were in for our own battles with authority…Ist came the decentralization of school fees, Sir. Olowu Duff²⁵ (knighted by us of course) fought valiantly for us and later we had to deal with the issue of the ash and white uniform conformation…We weren’t going to revert to secondary school ways without a fight; fight we did but in the end we did revert albeit earning the tag- rebels, a term chosen by our own Wosu Jane Ihuoma²⁶ (school uniform conformist).

On to other things…The legends made their best decision yet in 2014; appointing Ekanem Ete-Enen Sunday²⁷class rep…This hunk served us brilliantly even post-school, indeed carried everyone along—“are you getting it? You get?” he always said…I got to serve PANS as a senator under the leadership of Lady Mba Ethel Bassey²⁸aka The Godmother, a lady totally taken to pharmaceutical politics (I smell FIP, I detect NAFDAC)…My senatorship led me to the distinguished presence of the chairman PANS stakeholders forum Adhekegba Odafe Edward²⁹ (learnt loads from this great guy) and other politically hardened men- Nmeriebeole Kennedy Ikenna³⁰, Igbo Reginald Obi³¹aka CEO and the much reserved strategist Nwoye Chukwuma C.³²

Iweka Omoegbe Marvin³³ emerged unopposed as the Director of Socials and he did a splendid job…A master of innovations, he set up PANS annual holiday getaway and pharmacinemas, giving us all a brilliantly crafted PANS Health week…I’d like to think he got some help with all the ideas from his clique- Jaja Mystery Christian³⁴ (spiritual Father of NFCPS) and Alobari Victory Barineka³⁵ (a beautiful lady that can bake the Mona Lisa; RE: Tirzah Cakes; thoroughly enjoyed her chemistry lab skills)…

2015: The great year… “It goes down in this year, it go down…” In the voice of Yo Gotti…First stop the great election battle which saw Comrade Hassan Wisdom Ezekiel³⁶ emerge PANS President…Drama at its peak I tell you…Miss Nwala Mercy Ebere³⁷quickly won our hearts by taking good care of our photocopying needs, before long she became our Welfare officer (She can cook!!!)…Soon we were all soaked in the euphoria and excitement of being at the final stage of obtaining B.Pharm…We made sure the final year ‘room” was constantly kept boiling with emotions, we talked like chatter birds… Akromate Awoingofa Precious³⁸did a good job of keeping us engaged with his excellent handling of PCT courses…Our whatsapp group was a war zone with Owhor Cynthia Nneka³⁹doing her best to pacify us with the word of God, earned her the nickname Open Heaven…

Clinical clerkship started and I was given the best people to work with, I had the likes of Emakpor Joy Okareko⁴⁰ (a standard of self confidence and doing “you”), Ibeshi Elfreda⁴¹ (clown of a being- CEO Zoe Reeds), Onyemelukwe Joy Ifunanya⁴² (sweet four eyed daughter of zion) and Monsi Barizomdu⁴³ (super brilliant man who can average 8 words per second lol) in my group…Presentation Fridays were super fun…Dr. Didia and co couldn’t get over the tautology in Fineroad Answer Uzoma’s⁴⁴ name or Festus Osamuyi Harrison’s⁴⁵ super fly bow tie and accent…

We had elections for the Final Year Class Activity (FYCA) Team…The following were chosen Omandhowho Patrick Ajiri⁴⁶ (undying love for common good led his campaign)-Chairman; Kukang Queen Kabolobari⁴⁷ (her name is enough qualification Eze nwaanyi)– Secretary; Garuba Ubah Sunday⁴⁸ (the quiet horse)- Editor-In-Chief; Frank Tokoni Victoria⁴⁹ (Miss weave)- Treasurer….Getting our budget approved was hellish and I was the tormentor in chief, I caused way too much trouble eh…

Project supervisors were allocated; Ebillah Franscisca⁵⁰ (beautiful miss speak your mind) and Charles Isaac Ebong⁵¹got the good fortune of being supervised by our god- Professor K.O Udeala, though they had to put up with his chief priest- The fearsome Dr. Brown…I was placed in the care of the Don, somehow I wished I was placed with Tosh like pretty calm Elenwo Onyinyechi Miracle⁵²…The Don turned out great in the end…The amiable music lover Njaka Eric⁵³ was matched with Dr. Nwuche while Dr. Shosho admit it or not,  handpicked Mbajiorgu Adaobi Chinyelu⁵⁴ (a sincere soul) and Njoku Chidiebube C.⁵⁵ (another sincere soul)…

2^nd semester came and we knew we had few moments to spend with each other…Rumors had it that some guys started desperate attempts to get the ladies go out with them…KHHI (Marvin inspired know him-know her initiative) helped a lot…I mean without it I might never have heard Tendee Lanee Clement⁵⁶ talk…I would have kept on calling the well fed young man (Atuboyedia T)⁵⁷ Jude and the other calm nigga (Ikhayeremeoh Ajonode)⁵⁸ Douglas…I wouldn’t have known to refer to Chioma Nwachukwu⁵⁹ (always looked upon her twice or thrice) as Chioma D and Chukwu Chioma⁶⁰ as Chioma Elizabeth…

We were pushed into writing exams a month early and glory came on the 17^th  December…We were done with undergraduate written exams…We jumped around in our matching t-shirts and enjoyed the ritual of baptism by water…We made it!!!

2016:  We came back to school to round up our project work put on hold on account of the brought forward exams…Results were out and after the small matter of re-sit examinations we all set our sights on rocking suits for the external examiners…February came and the legends were conveyed via bus to Las gidi for our industrial visit (Bobo bigs people in Jenifa’s voice were conveyed to and fro by ugbo elu though e.g. curiously shaped Obuzor Cynthia Udoka⁶¹)…Industrial visit was tons of fun, the hotel room bonding (I got to stay with ruthless biz boy Ukaoha Lawrence Tochukwu⁶² –case study entrepreneur) ,the craziness of Lagos traffic, the tiring tour of pharmaceutical facilities and the Ehirim Chisom Mishael⁶³orchestrated pool party (where Ayoka Victor Ikechukwu⁶⁴ decided to show off his chiseled body—-raises hands in innocence) all added to make a wonderful experience and got us applauding the FYCA team…

After the trip came our big big fight with the Faculty…You could say it marred our time in school or prolonged it but truth be told it only made sure we will never be forgotten…TRUE LEGENDS lol…We refused to pay the 20,000 naira project external examiner fee which we paid in the long run after our usual kicking and trashing…We briskly rounded up our project talks and had to suffer a long long wait to induction…Impatient chief Ozioko Emmanuel Ikedi⁶⁵ led the wailing team (actually we all wailed) on the class group page, Okubuike Obinna⁶⁶ helped us with good humor (surely he could afford to smile, wasn’t his first rodeo) while Nwachukwu Victor⁶⁷ worried about our FYC dinner and year book…Surely we were all living soft lives in the words of Ubogu Odafe⁶⁸ (Eleco-nickname earned from his absolutely incredible handling of PANS elections) but we wanted more…We wanted our families to come out in their numbers to feel our joy…The Korubos couldn’t wait to print “Congrats Korubo Glory Joseph⁶⁹ on your induction”  along with her pretty face and awesome smile unto a notepad, apple phone, calendar or even the new iphone 7 as souvenir to their friends and well wishers…Wail  as we like Dr.Ugoeze wasn’t going  to process our results any faster but we didn’t let depression set in, hell we went ahead with life…Surely Tambari Josephine Nuale⁷⁰ kept up her enchanting smile and Ekeleme Onyedika Micah⁷¹ kept up his zest for life…Omenihu Agatha Nonye⁷² even got hitched (ensuring she didn’ t need a court affidavit for the name on her license lol)…All in all, for all the years it took, the trauma, the sleepless nights, the battles we made it to Ebitimi-Banigo hall….So wherever you see or hear these names please do shudder and if you are lucky to be in their presence know that these are not mere mortals (regard accordingly)…We are Legends!!!

Anozia Richard Chukwunonyelum (ARC)⁷³

The Speech They Never Wanted Read…

The Harder You Work, The Easier It Looks

True to the motto of this unique university we have been given a full dose of enlightenment, the self-reliant part in our opinion was over emphasized which of course is proper in a Mahadum. We have been passed through fire like gold; come out shining. This great institution has united us in our diversity.

We are grateful for many things, top of the list to have attended classes taught by our pharmaceutical Deity—Prof. K.O Udeala and his disciple student Dr. U.N.O Uwaga, great men of honor I would pay any fee to have a sit down with…

To my supervisor—Dr. Stanley Ukwueze who taught me beyond the confines of my project topic, I say thank you and assure you that our “friendship” (permit me to say) shall transcend the confines of Uniport.

This is one phase and we must be prepared to take on life. We must work hard to ensure we leave our marks on pharmacy practice across the globe. We cannot assume we have reached our peaks. We must choose career paths; diligently pursue our dreams and avoid side attractions as well as unscrupulous quick-money schemes. Remember Nelson Mandela is not the richest African.

We are happy that we would be busy our entire lives. There is so much to do, so much to study, so much to research on; pharmacokinetics, pharmacogenomics, drug-drug interaction, food-drug interaction, drug-disease interaction etc. We are prepared to go to the ends of the earth in search of knowledge.

Our names shall soon resonate across this country; across the globe—Ekanem, Adhekegba—Legend names; you heard them here first. Each one of us reflects the other; Pharmacist Joseph Ebirim (One of my mentors) would say- “we are bread from the same bakery” ergo same standard. We came here as boys and girls, today we leave as men of honor. Ladies and gentlemen I give you the best crop of pharmacists in the country.

Our Message to Nigeria: We beg you to make life comfortable for us lest we seek comfort elsewhere and you cry-“brain drain”. We want smooth transitions to internship centers and the national youth service program. We want the work force to receive us with an instant warm embrace. We ask for jobs that recognize our worth, one with security and an assured pension plan so we can enjoy our old age. We want water, electricity, good roads and security. We need to be kept safe from abductors who think we have no right to be “comfortable.” We want to be able to visit all your parts and explore your wealth without fear of our lives. Some of us here are so close to discovering lead therapeutic agents; our zeal is at its maximum but for lack of support, we’ve been halted. Our colleagues under the supervision of Dr. Aferioho have caught international attention with their work on anti-mitosis among other published journals. We shall remain steadfast in our prayers for our country and pledge to contribute our quota to the transformation of the great giant of Africa.

Beloved Nigeria, your healthcare system needs to be properly structured so that we can safeguard humanity through drugs with the least amount of bureaucratic interference. We pray for harmony among health professionals; a time when the words “Healthcare Team” would mean so much with our patient binding us as the all important coach.

Today, the 27th day in the month of January is not for us. This day, this ceremony, is for our parents, guardians and extended families that have carried us through this endeavor with financial, spiritual and moral support. We are indeed very grateful. We love you and we thank you for your patience.

Today we celebrate the Akahomens, the Kolawoles, the Omofurietas, the Udumukwus, the Anozias and all our families. I celebrate my parents Vitus and Weruche Anozia, Mrs. Sally Atokwu-Isama, Ogbuefi Bridget Nzimiro and all my other parents. All glory and honor goes to God Almighty at whose mercy we exist. Uwa na ma n’uwa ozo, Onye Ameshi ka m bu…

Anozia Richard

For The Graduating Class Of 2015

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