Near East University Faculty of Pharmacy, Head of the Department of Vocational Sciences and Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Prof. Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu, was sent off on his final journey in order to be buried in Izmir with a ceremony. Prof. Nurettin Abacıoğlu passed away on June 26. Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu has been continuing his half-century academic career at Near East University since 2016. Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu also served as the founding dean of the University of Kyrenia, Faculty of Pharmacy. Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu was among the world’s important scientists in the field of pharmacology.

Prof.Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu, who saddened all his loved ones with his death, was sent off to Izmir, which will be his resting place, with a ceremony held with the intense participation of his family, colleagues and students.

At the ceremony, respectively, Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ, Dean of Near East University Faculty of Pharmacy, Prof. Dr. İhsan Çalış, Near East University Faculty of Pharmacy Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Orhan Uludağ and Near East University Faculty of Engineering Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Salih Saner expressed their feelings in their speeches. Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel also expressed his sadness in his message. Expressing his condolences in his message, Prof. Dr. İrfan Suat Günsel said, “The traces you left on Near East University, where you will always be remembered with feelings of respect, mercy and gratitude, will never be erased.”

Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ: “Our teacher was known as an academician who walked in the light of science throughout his life and was devoted to knowledge and learning.”

“We are here today to say farewell to an important figure not only of the Near East University but also of the entire pharmacy community; Our esteemed teacher Prof. Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu, who was an intellectual who made great contributions to his profession.” said Near East University Rector Prof. Dr. Tamer Şanlıdağ and added; “Our teacher was known as an academician who walked in the light of science throughout his life and was devoted to knowledge and learning.

During his professional career, he touched the lives of many students and colleagues, broadened their horizons and became a source of inspiration. The traces he left will always live with the studies he conducted in the field of pharmacy and the generations he raised. He will always be with us with the value he added to us and his students.”

Prof. Dr. İhsan Çalış: “He was an important figure not only for the Turkish Pharmacists Association, but also for the Turkish Cypriot Pharmacists Association.”
Near East University Faculty of Pharmacy Dean Prof. Dr. İhsan Çalış said goodbye to his colleague and friend of 54 years, with an emotional speech.

“My colleague, my companion, my brother, dear Prof. Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu…At this moment, when I cannot accept that we lost Nurettin Abacıoğlu, it is really difficult to talk after my friend of 54 years.” Prof. Dr. Çalış said that during their student years he and Abacıoğlu shared the same desks. Prof. Dr. Çalış said, “After graduation, we parted ways and continued our studies at different universities. Later, our paths crossed once again and we met at Near East University. We worked for years side by side here.”

Prof. Dr. Prof. Dr. Çalış emphasizing that Nurettin Abacıoğlu was an academician who was in love with his profession, said that, as a pharmacologist, he was an academician who had vast knowledge about pharmacy education and professional issues. Prof. Dr. Çalış said, “My dear friend, who made great contributions to our profession with his versatile studies, played a very important role in the acceptance of the membership of the Turkish Cypriot Pharmacists Association to the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). Thus, he was an important figure not only for the Turkish Pharmacists Association, but also for the Turkish Cypriot Pharmacists Association.”

We will preserve his legacy and keep him alive.
Near East University Faculty of Pharmacy Vice Dean Prof. Dr. Orhan Uludağ, who was one of Nurettin Abacıoğlu’s first students, said that they have never been separated from each other for 35 years. Stating that hundreds of people called him within two days after the news of Abacıoğlu’s death, said, “I realized how much a person can be loved with the loss of my precious teacher.”

Emphasizing that Prof. Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu has contributed a lot to them in professional and humanitarian aspects, Prof. Dr. Orhan Uludağ said, “He has entrusted us a lot. We will protect all these trusts and keep them alive.”

Near East University Faculty of Engineering Lecturer Prof. Dr. Salih Saner said “We lost the most benevolent person of our Nature Friends Group. We will miss you very much.”

Who is Prof. Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu?
Prof. Dr. Nurettin Abacıoğlu graduated from Ankara University Faculty of Pharmacy and started his academic and professional life at the Department of Pharmacology at the same university in 1976. In 1984, he started to teaching for Gazi University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, as a lecturer. He was promoted to the rank of assistant professor in 1985, associate professor in 1987 and professor in 1992 at the same faculty. He served as the vice dean of this faculty between 1994-1995. He served as Head of the Department of Pharmacology between 2002 and 2016, and as Head of the Department of Vocational Sciences between 2011 and 2016. He served as the General Secretary of the Turkish Pharmacists Association Central Committee between 1984 and 1990. Starting from the same years, he served in various commissions of the State Planning Organization and the Ministry of Health for many years. In 2013, he received the Turkish Pharmacists Association Pharmacy Academy Service Award. In 2016, when he started working full-time at Near East University, he received the “40th Year Service Award” from the Turkish Pharmacology Association. Prof. Dr. Abacıoğlu, who served as the Head of the Department of Vocational Sciences and Head of the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Near East University, also served as the founding dean of the University of Kyrenia, Faculty of Pharmacy.