The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has advocated for a sweeping transformation of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
ACPN made the call at its 45th Annual National Scientific Conference, held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. Blueprint reports
According to the association, the mass migration of pharmacists, weak regulatory systems, medicine insecurity and the escalating abuse of drugs and other substances are posing growing threats to public health and national development.
ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, while speaking described the gathering as a defining moment for deeper collaboration between the pharmacy profession and government.
Pharm Igwekamma maintained that pharmacists were ready to work with government and other stakeholders in the national interest, and that policymakers should recognise the profession as a strategic partner in healthcare governance and national development.
Speaking on the accelerating migration of pharmacy professionals from Nigeria, Pharm. Igwekamma said approximately 9,000 pharmacists had emigrated from Nigeria in the four-and-a-half years leading to December 2025.
Attributing the trend to poor reward systems, delayed enforcement of drug distribution guidelines and disorganised medicine procurement networks, he said the exodus had continued into 2026, revealing that more than 850 pharmacists obtained letters of good standing from the PCN within the first six months of the year in preparation to relocate to countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United states.
Pharm Igwekamma stated that the continued departure of skilled professionals was creating a serious manpower shortage with implications for patient safety, healthcare delivery and the sustainability of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
Professor Wale Oyenuga in his keynote address, titled “Raising Community Pharmacy Practice in Nigeria to Global Standards: Navigating the Complex Nigerian Political System,” tasked stakeholders to move pharmacy practice beyond traditional product dispensing and reposition it as a comprehensive healthcare service.
Prof. Oyenuga proposed a five-pillar transformation agenda centred on a unified national vision, rigorous quality frameworks, digital-first data practices, formal integration of community pharmacists into primary healthcare and greater participation in healthcare financing through the National Health Insurance Authority Act.
Arguing that although community pharmacists are among the most accessible healthcare professionals in Nigeria, he noted that they remain largely unintegrated into national health policy, a gap he said must be addressed if the country is to attain global standards comparable with systems in Europe, North America and leading African countries.
PSN President and chief host, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, in his remarks stressed the importance of professional unity and policy alignment, noting that community pharmacists remain among the most accessible healthcare professionals and often serve as the first point of contact for millions of Nigerians seeking medical assistance.
Niger state Commissioner for Health Dr Murtala Muhammad Bagana, who represented Governor Bago, described community pharmacies as resilient frontline healthcare centres whose strategic role should be fully integrated into Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, said the council was strengthening professional regulation, including efforts to advance online pharmacy regulation.
Pharm Ahmed stressed that the PCN facilitated specialised mandatory continuing professional development training during the conference, covering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, professional ethics and substance abuse prevention.
Chairman of the Board of Fellows of the PSN, Pharm. Uche Nroegbu Apakama, while speaking urged senior pharmacists to mentor younger professionals, champion health equity and become more actively involved in policy formulation at federal, state and local government levels.
National Chairman of the Clinical Pharmacists Association of Nigeria (CPAN), Dr Maureen Nwafor, in his remarks described collaboration between community and clinical pharmacists as a critical bridge for ensuring continuity of patient care.
National Chairman of the Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria (AHAPN), Pharm. Elechi Oyim, said the complexity of Nigeria’s healthcare system demanded stronger cooperation among pharmacists across all practice settings to advance universal health coverage, medicine security, patient-centred care and sound health policies.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, lauded ACPN for its contribution to quality medicine,urging pharmacists to strengthen collaboration with state governments, particularly in addressing medicine security and related health challenges.
Representing NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Dr Ramatu Momodu disclosed that the agency’s responsibility extended beyond product registration to the entire lifecycle of medicines, hence the need to ensure that pharmaceutical products remained safe and effective.
Describing community pharmacists as indispensable partners in protecting the medicine supply chain, urging practitioners to maximise digital regulatory tools such as the NAFDAC Greenbook, Med Safety App and Scan2Verify technology, Dr Momodu called on practitioners to ensure that every community pharmacy functions as a surveillance post and every pharmacist acts as a guardian of the medicine supply chain.
Themed, “UNITY 2026: From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact – Managing Complex Healthcare Systems,” the conference provided a high-level platform for discussions on healthcare governance, medicine security, workforce development, universal health coverage, digital regulation and Nigeria’s worsening drug abuse crisis.