The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy has called for closer collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and industry players to strengthen pharmaceutical innovation and accelerate national development.
Speaking during the Academy’s 2025 Investiture and Public Lecture in Lagos, its President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Lere Baale, said the nation must prioritise self-reliance in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing to safeguard its health security.
“We need to reduce dependence. We must be independent. Many elites, many of the people – we must be brave enough to help the country,” Baale said. “Pharmaceutical innovation is not just science; it is governance, business, and above all, nation building.”
The event, themed ‘Pharmaceutical Innovation and Nation Building’, brought together pharmacists, academics, regulators, and policymakers to explore strategies for transforming Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
Baale, who also serves as President of the Nigerian School of Pharmacy and CU Business School in the Netherlands, reflected on the challenges of marketing pharmaceutical products in Nigeria and the lessons learnt from other countries.
“When the goods came into Nigeria, I found myself going to places like Ajegunlé, trying to sell the products. Now I know better,” he said. “Around the world, things are changing. India is a pharmacy to the world, and Rwanda is building its own. Nigeria must change, too.”
Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyemi, stated that the ongoing regulatory reform is enhancing the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured medicines.
“Under our leadership, Nigeria now has two WHO-prequalified medicine manufacturers and the first WHO-prequalified medical device company,” Adeyeye said.
“Without academia, we cannot do research and development. Our staff now earn master’s and PhD degrees while serving full-time; that’s part of nation building.”
She added that NAFDAC had strengthened partnerships between universities and the private sector through collaborations with institutions such as the University of Lagos and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, to boost pharmaceutical research and innovation.
Delivering the keynote address, the Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Mr Wale Oyedeji, described innovation and collaboration as vital to repositioning Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.
“Pharmaceutical innovation is many things – science, yes, but also business, governance, and nation building,” Oyedeji said. “We must challenge practitioners to devote more than 0.2 per cent to R&D, focusing on what we have locally. India looked within and transformed its healthcare system. We can do even better.”
He cautioned that Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines, low research investment, and persistent brain drain continued to weaken the country’s pharmaceutical growth.
The event also featured a valedictory session in honour of the late Pharm. Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe, who was celebrated as a pioneer of modern pharmacy education in Nigeria.
Baale said Akinkugbe’s life exemplified the values of discipline, scholarship, and service that the academy seeks to uphold. “The newly inducted Fellows are expected to uphold professionalism and contribute to building a stronger healthcare system,” he added.
During the ceremony, 14 new Fellows were inducted, while six professionals received honorary recognition for their contributions to health, research, and pharmaceutical practice.
Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award, regarded as the Academy’s highest professional honour, included Chief Theophilous Adebowale Omotosho, Founder and Chairman of Bond Chemical Industries Limited; Dr Fidelis Ayebae, former CEO of Fidson Healthcare Plc; Pharm. Stella Okoli, Managing Director of Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited, and the first Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Gabriel Osuide.
Others who received Honorary Fellowship Awards were Pharm. Ebenezer Adeleke, Sayyid Atana, Dr Obiora Chukwuka, Pharm. Alfred Osinoiki, Auwalu Rano, and Varkey Verghese, for their exceptional contributions to the pharmaceutical profession and national development.
