A professor of Pharmacy at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Kenneth Ofokansi, has said more potent oral drugs have been invented in the last three decades.
Ofokansi these advanced drugs were made in forms, such as tablets, capsules, sachets, suspensions, emulsions and solutions. He added that they were superior to the conventional oral dosage forms.
Presenting the 140th inaugural lecture of the University of Nigeria titled “Breaking the Barriers to Effective Peroral Drug Delivery”, inside the Princess Alexandra auditorium, Nsukka, the university don, who is the chairman of the Senate ceremonials committee of UNN, ssaid in the last four and half decades, peroral drug delivery has undergone unprecedented changes.
“This transition has been mainly driven by the increased understanding of pharmaceutical and biological constraints at the molecular / atomic level, increased generation of drug candidates and emergence of several advanced technologies.”
Ofokansi said this area made significant technological advances, not only in drug delivery aspects but also in fabrication technologies, adding that it was anticipated that trends would bring the much-awaited revolution in the delivery of therapeutic agents, particularly biotechnology-based molecules.
He added that the purpose of any drug delivery system was to enhance or facilitate the action of therapeutic compounds, stressing that it should now be apparent that conventional drug delivery systems were associated with a number of limitations which can reduce drug efficacy.
He also enjoined other well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians to call on governments to fund specialised reference laboratories in universities.
He paid glowing tribute to his late father, Chief Gabriel Ozoekwe Ofokansi, for laying a solid foundation for him and his mother, Mrs. Cecilia Mbanugo Ofokansi. He thanked his mother’s brother, Christopher Ogbonnia Anijah, who trained him and his brother, Dr. Uchenna Ofokansi. He also praised his wife, Nneoma, for her love, prayers and understanding.
While appreciating the vice chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, for believing in him, Prof. Ofokansi also praised the managing director of Miral Pharm Ltd, Lagos, Mr. Onyeka Micah Onyeibor, Ejike Ugwoke, Dozie Ikegbuna, Francis Edozie, Nnamdi Okoye, Chibuike Onwusoba and Chukwuma Ugezu for their support.
The vice chancellor, Prof. Chukwuma Ozumba, re-affirmed the commitment of management to continue to invest in research and expressed joy that UNN was now ranked as the best university in Nigeria.
The traditional ruler of Nando, Anambra State, Igwe Chinedu Nwakonuche and members of Umuriam clan of Agbudu village, Nando and members of the university community were among guests who graced the historic occasion.
