By Ishioma Appiah Yeboah
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has reiterated its unwavering commitment to partnering with the government to advance healthcare delivery and promote the well-being of Nigerians.
This pledge was made during the opening of the 44th Annual National Scientific Conference of the Association, themed “Technology Integration and Personalized Care: The Future of Community Pharmacy Practice.” The high-profile event, tagged “IFEADIGO 2025,” is currently taking place at the International Conference Centre in Awka, Anambra State.
The conference has drawn a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, academics, traditional leaders, policymakers, and industry leaders, united in their resolve to reposition community pharmacy as a driver of personalized, tech-enabled healthcare.
In his keynote address, National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, underscored the importance of strengthening pharmaceutical governance through the full implementation of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG). He lauded the Anambra State Government under Governor Chukwuma Soludo for pioneering the establishment of Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs), which are key to sanitizing drug distribution channels.
Ezeh further applauded Governor Soludo’s pharmacy-friendly policies, including the appointment of pharmacists to strategic positions in government. He expressed optimism over the progress of the Oba CWC project and called for harmony between regulatory bodies, particularly between the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).
“It is imperative that regulatory agencies stick to their statutory roles. Overlapping mandates create confusion and hinder progress,” Ezeh said.
Delivering the keynote lecture, Imo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Michael Ubaka, spotlighted the local pharmacist as the most impactful healthcare provider in today’s digital era. He emphasized the critical need for community pharmacies to adopt digital tools and deliver patient-centered care to support universal health coverage as envisioned by the World Health Organization.
“Community pharmacists are at the frontlines managing chronic diseases, offering health education, supporting immunization efforts, and most importantly, ensuring accessible healthcare at the grassroots,” Prof. Ubaka said.
In his welcome address, Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, expressed delight at hosting the conference and reaffirmed his administration’s support for a robust pharmaceutical ecosystem. He acknowledged pharmacists as central to Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“Pharmacists are the heart of our healthcare delivery system. You help us stay safe, live longer, and healthier lives,” Soludo remarked. He urged the profession to embrace a culture of self-regulation, ethical discipline, and continuous improvement.
Also speaking at the event, Conference Chairman, Pharm. Ike Onyechi represented by Pharm. (Dr.) Ignatius Anukwu commended the resilience of community pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic and their sustained role in community wellness. He called on pharmacists to embrace digital transformation, noting that innovation is key to meeting the evolving demands of the healthcare sector.
The conference, a pivotal gathering for Nigeria’s pharmacy profession, aims to reposition community pharmacies as essential hubs for digital health services, chronic care management, and preventive health interventions.
As discussions continue, stakeholders agreed on one shared vision: to ensure community pharmacy practice remains a cornerstone of quality healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
