Which Universities offer Pharmacy in Nigeria?

Which Universities offer Pharmacy in Nigeria – In this post, we will show you the 21 Universities that offer Pharmacy in Nigeria. The study of pharmacy is mainly concerned with the action of drugs on biological systems and their applications for human drug therapy.

The program prepares graduates for the contemporary role of the pharmacist in society ensuring that patients optimize medication usage.

Branches of Pharmacy

Pharmaceutical chemistry deals with the composition and properties of substances used to manufacture drugs. Students explore the use, nature, preparation, and preservation of chemicals and learn how to test the purity and strength of a medicine.

Pharmacognosy is the study of drugs derived from plants or animals.

Pharmacology is concerned with understanding the action of drugs in the body. Students examine the effects of various doses of medicine and the different ways in which a drug can be introduced into the body. Toxicology, a branch of pharmacology, studies the effects of poisons and means of overcoming them.

Clinical pharmacy deals with patient care, emphasizing drug therapy. It helps students to gain a better understanding of general methods of diagnosis and therapy, to develop their sense of responsibility to patients, and to improve communication skills.

Pharmacy administration focuses on business management and is particularly useful to students who plan to become executives in pharmacies, hospitals, or other institutions. Instruction usually includes courses in economics, accounting, management, computer applications, marketing, merchandising, and the legal aspects of the pharmacy profession.

Pharmaceutics is the branch which deals with the presentation of drug or medicine in a suitable form which is also called dosage forms and checks the actions of drugs in a body.

Roles and Responsibilities of Pharmacists

Dispense prescriptions: This is the “filling, licking and sticking” most people imagine when they conjure a mental image of a pharmacist counting out tablets, preparing a bottle label and handling medications to patients.

Communicate with prescribers: Any time a prescription order is unclear or potentially harmful for a patient, you need to confirm the dosage and formulation (e.g., liquid or tablet), as well as whether brand name product is required or if you can substitute a generic equivalent.

Ensure patients’ safety: Check each patient’s medication record every time he or she gets a new or refill prescription filled. This is the best way for a pharmacist to prevent potentially dangerous interactions between drugs.

Counsel patients: This involves more than informing about adverse reactions and interactions with other medications, food, alcohol and other beverages like grapefruit juice.

Counseling includes training patients how and when to take doses, following up with patients to see if medications are working, sharing tips on how to minimize side effects while maximizing benefits and listening to all of a patient’s concerns.

Work with patients on general health: Maintaining health requires more than taking prescription medications, Pharmacists can help patients heal and avoid getting sick by sharing advice on using nonprescription remedies, taking health supplements such as vitamins, using herbal and natural health products, exercising and maintaining a good diet.

Deal with insurance companies: Pharmacists working in a chain and independent pharmacies, especially, have to submit insurance claims and work with private insurance companies, Medicare and Medicaid to ensure payment, and resolve coverage denials so patients do not go with medications.

Manage staff: Pharmacists have the ultimate responsibility for ensuring the “three Rs” of right drug, right patient and right dose. Meeting this responsibility requires overseeing the work of and mentoring pharmacy technicians, student interns and residents. Pharmacy owners and supervisors also have responsibilities for making hiring decisions and setting and enforcing workplace policies.

Perform administrative tasks: Everyone in a pharmacy has some responsibilities for keeping patient files up to date, making sure needed products are stocked and required reports get generated and filed. If you hold a supervisor or management position, you can spend as much or more time on administrative duties as on patient care.

Educate health provider colleagues: Doctors, nurses and other health care providers about new medications and drug therapy protocols.

21 Universities that offer Pharmacy in Nigeria

ABU – Joseph Ayo Babalola University
BAYERO – Bayaro University
BENIN – University of Benin
DELSU – Delta State University
GSU – Gombe State University
IBADAN – University of Ibadan
IGBINEDION – Igbinedion University, Okada
ILORIN – University of Ilorin, Ilorin
JOS – University of Jos
KASU – Kaduna State University
LAGOS – University of Lagos Akoka
MADONNA – Madonna University
MAIDUGURI – University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri
NDU – Niger Delta University
OAU – Obafemi Awolowo University
OOU – Olabisi Onabanjo University
PHC – University of Port-Harcourt
UDU – Usmanu Danfodio University
UNIZIK – Nnamdi Azikiwe University
UNN – University of Nigeria Nsukka
UYO – University of Uyo

Job Opportunities for Pharmacists in Nigeria

Pharmacy profession is very lucrative as it is very important to the sustenance of health care systems in terms of drug production and prescription. There are many job opportunities available to a pharmacist. Some of them include:

Pharmaceutical Industries: some of the prominent pharmaceutical industries where pharmacy graduates gain employment include:

May & Baker Nigeria Limited
Orange Drugs Limited

Emzor Pharmaceuticals Limited

Ranbaxy Nigeria Limited

Government Agencies such as National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) employ pharmacists to ascertain the safety of foods and drugs.
Hospital Pharmacists: Pharmacists are employed in hospitals in the dispensing of drugs. Pharmacists can be employed in government and private owned hospitals across the country.
NGOs providing humanitarian services such as UNICEF, Oxfam, Red Cross and so on.