Nigeria has joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2025 World Pharmacy Day, with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, described pharmacists as strategic partners in building healthier and more resilient societies.
Speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Abuja on Thursday to mark Nigeria’s maiden edition of the Day, themed “Think Health, Think Pharmacists,” Prof. Pate, represented by Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Ayegbusi, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary and Head of the Health Nutrition Department, emphasized that pharmacists are not just dispensers of medicine but essential players in the nation’s healthcare system.
“Across Nigeria, pharmacists have emerged as frontline health professionals accessible, trusted, and indispensable. From government cities to remote villages, they are the first point of contact for millions seeking healthcare guidance, medication, and preventive services,” he said.
Highlighting policy reforms, the Minister listed the National Drug Policy, the e-Pharmacy Policy, and the recently launched eighth edition of the National Essential Medicines List as milestones that align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. These, he explained, are aimed at strengthening healthcare infrastructure, boosting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and investing in human capital development.
He further noted that the pharmacy profession in Nigeria has achieved remarkable progress, including the establishment of Pharmacovigilance Centres nationwide through NAFDAC, expansion of clinical pharmacy practice, and steady growth in local pharmaceutical production. He called on the private sector, individuals, and international partners to support pharmacy education, research, and regulatory enforcement to eliminate counterfeit drugs and sustain innovation.
“Nigeria is a big country, and we are going to be the hub of medicine in Africa. Together, we are shaping a future where every Nigerian has access to safe, effective, and affordable medicine,” Pate affirmed.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, mni, represented by Mrs. Olufowobi Yusuf Adeola, Director of Food, Chemical, Cosmetics and Water Safety Division, described pharmacists as the “backbone of medication” in the healthcare system, echoing this year’s theme.
Activities to mark the World Pharmacy Day included medical outreach for civil servants and members of the public, where pharmacists provided medical advice and drugs. Goodwill messages were delivered by NAFDAC, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Codix Pharmaceutical Company, and MEBS.
