Former Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Professor Chinedum Peace Babalola, has outlined a set of priorities for the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Tanko Ayuba, to address during his remaining year in office. In an exclusive chat with Pharmanews, Babalola said the priorities include accountability, medicine affordability, pharmacists’ welfare and stronger institutional reforms.
While acknowledging the reported progress made under Ayuba’s administration in professional advocacy, regulatory matters involving pharmaceutical technologists and veterinary medicines, and internship placement, Babalola called for a clear assessment of the administration’s achievements during its first two years. She also urged the PSN president to develop a well-defined action plan for his final year, particularly as the Society approaches its centenary.
The first female professor of pharmacy at the University of Ibadan said the president should prioritise medicine affordability by promoting quality-assured local production and strengthening collaboration among the PSN, the Nigeria Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP), academia, manufacturers, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and government. Such collaboration, she said, should produce practical solutions to high production costs, dependence on imported pharmaceutical inputs, limited bioequivalence testing capacity and inadequate access to affordable, quality-assured medicines.
Babalola also called on the PSN president to improve pharmacists’ welfare, particularly that of those in academia. She maintained that the expansion of pharmacy schools must be accompanied by adequate facilities, sufficient qualified personnel and better working conditions.
“We should not measure progress only by the number of schools established. We must strengthen existing institutions, improve staff welfare, retain our best academic talent and ensure that expansion is matched by capacity,” she said.
She further urged the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), as the regulator of pharmacy education and practice, to work with universities and other relevant authorities to assess academic manpower requirements, vacancies, specialist disciplines, projected retirements and future training needs.
As the PSN approaches its centenary, Babalola said Ayuba should aim to leave behind a stronger institution characterised by greater unity, improved member welfare, better prospects for academic pharmacists, stronger regulatory collaboration and demonstrable progress in medicine security.
“My assessment, therefore, is that the administration has kept important professional and regulatory matters on the agenda. The opportunity in the remaining period is to move from advocacy to implementation, from reported achievements to verifiable outcomes, and from individual initiatives to lasting institutional reforms. That would be a meaningful contribution to the Society’s next century,” she said.
Speaking on the forthcoming 99th Annual National Conference of the PSN, tagged Ijele 2026, Babalola described the theme, “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact”, as exceptionally apt and timely. She said it challenges pharmacists to recognise that human health cannot be considered in isolation from animal health, the environment, food safety and the wider systems that influence population health.
To prevent conference deliberations from ending with the presentation of a communiqué, she proposed establishing a Conference Resolutions Implementation Committee to select one or two priority resolutions, assign responsibilities, set timelines, identify resources and report progress to members.
Babalola further discusses her expectations for the conference, practical strategies for reducing medicine costs, the need to strengthen local pharmaceutical production and the priorities she believes the PSN should pursue as it prepares to enter its second century.
Below is the full interview:
The PSN National Conference is around the corner, with the theme, “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact.” In your view, how apt is this theme at this time, and what does it mean for the pharmacy profession and the wider healthcare system?
Nigeria faces several interconnected health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases, environmental contamination, the circulation of substandard and falsified medicines, and inadequate access to affordable, quality-assured medicines. These challenges cannot be resolved by one profession or agency acting alone.
Consider antimicrobial resistance. The inappropriate use of antibiotics in humans and animals, poor infection prevention and the release of pharmaceutical residues into the environment can all contribute to a problem that threatens the effectiveness of existing treatments. Pharmacists must work with physicians, veterinarians, microbiologists, environmental scientists and public health authorities to promote antimicrobial stewardship, strengthen surveillance and protect the effectiveness of our medicines.
The theme is also relevant to medicine quality and national pharmaceutical security. We must look beyond whether a medicine is available and ask whether it is authentic, safe, effective, properly stored and affordable. Pharmacists contribute throughout the medicine lifecycle, from research and formulation to manufacturing, quality assurance, distribution, dispensing and post-market surveillance.
However, the phrase “bridging knowledge, practice and policy” is particularly important to me. Nigeria has capable researchers, universities, pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulatory institutions. We have generated considerable scientific knowledge, but we must do more to translate that knowledge into products, professional practice, policy decisions and measurable improvements in public health.
We must invest in relevant research that addresses Nigerian health needs, including medicine quality, antimicrobial resistance, pharmacokinetics, drug safety and pharmaceutical innovation. We must also ensure that research findings influence the work of pharmacists and other healthcare professionals in hospitals, community pharmacies, laboratories, industry and public health programmes. Equally important is the translation of scientific evidence into appropriate regulations, funding decisions, procurement policies, professional standards and sustainable health programmes.
I therefore believe the PSN should not allow this theme to remain a conference slogan. I would like to see a practical One Health action framework with clearly identified partners, timelines and indicators of progress.
Ultimately, the success of One Health, One Pharmacy will not be measured by the eloquence of our presentations, but by whether our collaboration protects lives, improves access to quality medicines, strengthens pharmaceutical security and contributes to a healthier Nigeria.
The rising cost of medicines remains a major concern for patients. What practical steps can the PSN, in collaboration with NAIP and other stakeholders, take to reduce the cost of local pharmaceutical production and ultimately make medicines more affordable and accessible to Nigerians?
The rising cost of medicines is a serious public health and socioeconomic concern. When medicines become unaffordable, patients may delay treatment, skip doses, buy incomplete courses or resort to products of uncertain quality. The consequences can include worsening illness, treatment failure and greater financial pressure on families.
In my view, we must go beyond asking manufacturers to reduce prices. We need to address the structural factors that make pharmaceutical production expensive in Nigeria, including dependence on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients, foreign exchange fluctuations, energy and logistics costs, expensive financing, and the cost of meeting quality and regulatory requirements.
My central proposal is a structured partnership among industry, academia, regulators and government. The PSN and NAIP should jointly champion a mechanism that connects our research capacity to the practical needs of pharmaceutical manufacturers and the health system.
One opportunity is to develop pharmaceutical raw materials from locally available resources. Nigeria has agricultural, chemical and petrochemical resources that could support the production of selected pharmaceutical inputs. Cassava can provide starch for pharmaceutical excipients and, through appropriate processing, feedstocks for industrial ethanol production. Maize and other agricultural materials may provide starches, cellulose, gums, oils and mucilages with pharmaceutical applications. Petrochemical industries may also supply selected solvents and chemical intermediates.
Nigerian researchers have already investigated some of these possibilities. We must now establish a stronger pathway from laboratory findings to industrial-scale production. This will require product characterisation, purification, standardisation, quality assurance, investment and dependable markets. Locally sourced materials must meet pharmaceutical standards; their availability alone does not make them suitable for medicinal use.
Another priority is to translate promising research into products. Our universities and research institutes have expertise in formulation development, medicinal chemistry, pharmacokinetics, drug delivery and medicinal plants. Yet promising research can remain in academic journals without reaching manufacturers or patients.
I propose a national industry-academia-regulatory collaboration platform involving the PSN, NAIP, universities, the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), NAFDAC, pharmaceutical manufacturers, investors and relevant government agencies. The platform should identify promising research, match researchers with industrial partners, facilitate access to pilot plants and analytical laboratories, clarify intellectual property and licensing arrangements, and establish early agreement on the regulatory evidence required for product development.
We should also invest in our medicinal biodiversity. Nigeria has a rich heritage of medicinal plants and locally available food plants that researchers have investigated for possible antimicrobial, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, metabolic and other therapeutic effects. This presents opportunities to develop scientifically validated medicines and nutraceuticals.
Drug repurposing is another area worth exploring. Some existing medicines may have potential for new indications, including selected cancers and other conditions associated with substantial treatment costs. Repurposing can sometimes shorten parts of the development process because information about an existing medicine is already available. However, this does not automatically establish its safety or effectiveness for a new indication. Appropriate studies, ethical oversight and regulatory approval remain essential.
We must also address the cost of bioavailability and bioequivalence (BA/BE) studies. These studies can be expensive for local manufacturers seeking to demonstrate that eligible generic medicines perform comparably to reference products. I would encourage a public-private partnership to establish or strengthen competent contract research organisations and shared BA/BE facilities. Government, industry, academia and development partners could share investment, expertise and infrastructure, while NAFDAC provides appropriate regulatory oversight. Reducing costs must never come at the expense of scientific integrity.
Finally, we must translate policy incentives into measurable benefits for patients. The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the Federal Government’s policy measures to promote local production provide an important foundation. The next step is effective implementation, supported by financing, technology transfer, infrastructure, predictable procurement and measures to strengthen quality-assured domestic production.
Government incentives should deliver public value. Where public funding or procurement commitments support manufacturers, there should be transparent expectations regarding product quality, reliable supply and price competitiveness.
As the PSN prepares for its 99th Annual National Conference, what are your expectations regarding the organisation of the conference, delegates’ welfare, the quality of speakers and presentations, professional networking and the overall experience?
My expectations for the 99th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Ijele 2026, are high. As the Society approaches its centenary, this conference should demonstrate not only the strength of our professional community but also our capacity for excellence, innovation and effective organisation.
Delegate safety and welfare must be priorities. Transportation should be convenient, information should be communicated clearly, and accommodation, hospitality and programme coordination should meet reasonable expectations. There should also be opportunities for entertainment, cultural engagement and relaxation. We want delegates to enjoy Awka, appreciate Anambra State and return home with a lasting, positive impression of the PSN.
Regarding the quality of speakers and presentations, I expect distinguished resource persons who can offer evidence-based insights, fresh perspectives and practical solutions to the challenges facing pharmacy and healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The conference should also provide meaningful opportunities for professional networking, mentorship for younger pharmacists, and stronger partnerships among academia, industry, regulators, government and development partners.
I would particularly welcome discussions that move beyond identifying problems to proposing workable solutions in areas such as pharmacists’ welfare, academic workforce development, medicine affordability, local pharmaceutical manufacturing, medicine quality, public health and the implementation of pharmacy education reforms.
However, there is one issue I consider especially important: what happens after the conference?
We often organise conferences with excellent speakers, stimulating discussions and well-written communiqués. Yet implementation can remain a challenge. We must not allow our resolutions to become recurring declarations that are revisited at successive conferences without sufficient progress.
I therefore recommend that the PSN establish a Conference Resolutions Implementation Committee with a clear mandate to select one or two priority resolutions, assign responsibilities, establish timelines, identify resources and report progress to members.
The priorities could include improving pharmacists’ welfare and conditions of service, particularly by addressing the remuneration and retention challenges facing academic pharmacists. Another could be strengthening access to quality-assured and affordable medicines through collaboration among the PSN, NAIP, academia, industry, NAFDAC, the PCN and government.
The Society does not have to solve every challenge at once. However, if each conference identifies a small number of achievable priorities and follows them through to completion, we will gradually build a culture of accountability and measurable progress.
As we approach 100 years of the PSN, we should be proud of the foundations laid by successive generations of pharmacists and leaders. We should also be bold enough to ask how we can improve our institutions, strengthen our influence on national policy and deliver greater value to our members and the public.
I want Ijele 2026 to be remembered for excellent organisation, warm hospitality, outstanding presentations, meaningful professional connections and, above all, tangible outcomes.
