When Pharm. A. O. Odusina, the then Marketing Manager of ICI, Apapa, early 1977, started hosting several meetings with the likes of Pharm. HBK Bob-Manuel and Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi, among others, to form what is known today as the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), little did anyone know that such a mustard seed could become a huge tree in today’s Nigeria pharmaceutical landscape, that will not just be a rallying point, but also clearing the road and leading the journey of local manufacturing of medicines, through which the nation can be self-sufficient in medicine.
Today, after about 47 years of existence, under different leadership, NAIP has blossomed into a legacy of excellence, innovation, and unwavering commitment to the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria. The footprints of the association in the nation’s pharma sector have become indelible, having walked a remarkable journey.
The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, is a technical arm of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), which harbours all pharmacists in the Industrial sector of the profession- manufacturing, importation, and mega drug distribution. NAIP has over the past few years, under different past chairmen established huge legacies like the Pharmacy Estate in Ogun state which is about 600 plots of land and the Pharma Park in Ebonyi State which is about 110 Hectares with C of O issued by Ebonyi State Government. The association also recently got its permanent office in Lagos state commissioned.
From humble beginnings to becoming a strong and respected voice in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, the association has weathered the storms, embraced opportunities, and remained steadfast in its commitment to the advancement of industrial pharmacy practice; all thanks to all the past executive members of the association under the chairmanship of respected personalities like A.O Odusina, Dr Lolu Ojo, Pharm. Ade Popola, Pharm. Gbenga Falabi, Pharm. Ignatius Anukwu to the current chairman, Pharm. Ken Onuegbu.
While all the past leaders of the association have all worked assiduously towards the attainment of the aspiration of the association and advancement of the pharmaceutical industry, the last five years has been remarkable in the history of the association and this is because some of the goals set by the past leaders are being realised during this period. Although NAIP has not gotten to where it aspires to be, it has many success stories to tell.
While reflecting on the last five years in the history of the association in a recent interview with Pharmanewsonline, the current chairman, Pharm. Onuegbu commended the past leaders/exco of the association for the foundation they have laid before he took over four years ago.
Although Pharm. Onuegbu’s emergence as NAIP chairman was by providence, as he never planned to contest for the position, it eventually turned into a passionate commitment, guided by one overarching goal which is to ensure that NAIP never diminished the goodwill it had accumulated “I was very lucky. I became the National Chairman of NAIP when the goodwill was at the optimum level; when the brand visibility was tangible, you could see it, touch and feel it. My predecessor, Pharmacist IG Anukwu, and others before him had done an excellent job. I only needed to sustain and grow that legacy”, Pharm. Onuegbu said.
Strategic goals
Upon his swearing in, Pharm. Onuegbu, together with his exco members set goals, top among which was to secure a permanent office for NAIP. He said “We were not happy that an association that had existed for over 44 years still operated as tenants. So, I vowed that under my leadership, we would break that unacceptable record. A challenge with a previous landlord only strengthened the resolve. We had no place to go and ended up in a small cubicle at the PSN office in Anthony Village. This development was unacceptable to us”, the chairman said.
Apart from acquiring the NAIP House, according to Onuegbu, other goals set at the beginning of the tenure include capacity building, project continuity, stakeholders’ engagement, as well as sustaining projects like the Pharmacy Estate in Ogun State and the Pharma Park in Ebonyi which were initiated by past administrations, among others.
Dr Joy Adeshina, who served as national secretary in the Pharm. Onuegbu’s tenure added that one of the earliest goal of the exco was to physically visit member companies, a move she said helped to understand members’ pain points and reposition NAIP more strategically within the pharmaceutical sector.”
“A needs assessment survey followed which revealed critical gaps in workforce development. Companies also complained about the lack of credible production pharmacists, and issues with sales reps disappearing with funds. We saw all these as our responsibility to address”, Pharm. Adeshina said.
Milestone achievements
Although the set goals appeared huge and many, as of the time of this report, Pharm. Onuegbu led exco members have literally achieved the set goals and have even done more. The Pharm. Onuegbu led exco has been able to acquire a permanent property for the association (permanent secretariat). The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Tanko Ayuba, on 15 April, 2025, commissioned the NAIP House, situated at 1B Ike God Street, Ajao Estate, in Oshodi- Isolo Local Government Area of Lagos, an achievement that eventually came to reality after about 47 years of floating as a tenant.
The NAIP House, as a matter of fact, is considered to be a hub for strategy, innovation, and collaboration; a symbol of unity that honors the dreams of its founding fathers. The NAIP House is also seen as a launchpad for impact, featuring a pharmaceutical technology library, research centre, and exhibition space for industry outputs.
Pharm. Onuegbu said “Our new National Secretariat in Lagos is not just a structure, it is a legacy. It is a testament to the perseverance of our past and present leaders. It gave us the foundation to expand our impact and better serve our members and the broader healthcare system. It also provides a platform for the association to host industry-specific training, strategic and collaborative forums; enhance administrative efficiency and continuity in leadership transitions and then foster a stronger identity and sense of belonging among members, adding that it will attract partnerships and funding for pharmaceutical innovation and advocacy.
Also speaking on the NAIP House, Dr Adeshina said “having a physical base means we can now roll out more ambitious skill development plans without logistical concerns. We’ve moved beyond just talk, we have followed up with execution.”
Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, no doubt, holds enormous potential to meet local drug needs, reduce dependence on imports, and compete regionally; however, according to Pharm. Onuegbu, there are a number of barriers to achieving the potentials such as the shortage of credible and skilled industrial pharmacists, particularly in production, quality, regulatory affairs, and pharmaceutical marketing, lack of funding, lack of government support, among others.
To address this challenge, in line with the set goals, the association started by taking a leadership role in closing the gap, implementing a phased strategy, focused on training, curriculum reform, and structural policy advocacy. Specifically, in the quest to achieve the set goals, in bridging the noticed gap, the association set development strategies which are in phases of short-term impact that covers one to two years; medium-term impact of three to five years, and long-term impact of five-ten years and beyond.
Under the short-term impact, the exco embarked on capacity building and succession. Through this, NAIP launched workshops and professional development programmes tailored to production pharmacists, quality assurance personnel, and sales operatives, focusing on Good Manufacturing and Distribution Practices.
The association also went into collaboration with pharmacy schools and regulators and one of the manifestation of such collaborations was the recent announcement of the NAIP Academic Excellence Award, a ₦200,000 annual cash prize to the Best Graduating Students in the department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology of five Nigerian schools of Pharmacy, which are University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); University of Ilorin (UNILORIN); Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO); Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (ABU) and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). The award celebrates brilliance and strengthens industry-academia ties and as well ensuring it raises a new generation of pharmaceutical leaders.
Under the Medium-Term Impact (3–5 Years), Pharm. Onuegbu led exco made moves, aligning academia with industry needs. In this regard, NAIP has been involved in curriculum reviews, programme development and collaborations with the Nigeria Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA) in the research and development of pharmaceutical products. As a result, two products are currently undergoing registration.
Meanwhile, on the Long-Term Vision (5–10 Years and Beyond), the association is aspiring to set up a Centre for Industrial Pharmacy Excellence, as it aims to establish a national centre of excellence to support advanced technical training and innovation in pharmaceutical manufacturing to be domiciled in the new secretariat. NAIP is also working toward a Global Best Practices through international partnerships, and in view of this, strategic collaborations are being forged with NAPPSA to expose Nigerian professionals to global manufacturing standards.
Major challenges
The journey has not been an all-smooth ride for the Pharm. Onuegbu-led exco. They have also encountered many challenges. Pharm. Onuegbu said “The economic climate in the past three years has been chaotic. Many companies have exited the market due to forex instability, high production costs, security concerns and poor infrastructure.”
He also lamented the spiraling cost of diesel, insecurity, and infrastructural decay as persistent roadblocks. According to him, even those who produce locally are struggling; adding that the poverty index in the country is high, as many people can’t afford the medicines some of his members produce.
Dr Adeshina on her part noted that there were barriers, but the association was not deterred. She said “Despite the barriers, we have taken large strides. The business academy and regulatory programmes we initiated are foundational blocks for future growth.”
State of Industrial Pharmacy, NAIP in Nigeria
Despite all the challenges, the exco has positioned the association to be in a good state and moving forward. The nation’s industrial pharmacy on the other hand is gradually moving to the next level. While speaking on the current state of the association and the industrial pharmacy generally in Nigeria, Pharm. Onuegbu said “NAIP and industrial pharmacy in Nigeria are on a new trajectory. Our message has always been unlocking the healthcare value chain through domestic production.
“A key accomplishment in that direction was the formation of the Federation of Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industries Associations (FeNPIA), which is the coming together of PMGMAN, NAIP, APIN, IPMIN, and IROPHARM. With one voice, we have secured incentives to reduce medicine costs and increase local manufacturing,”
The NAIP chairman specifically noted that the number of medicine manufacturing companies in Nigeria, as of the time of the interview, has grown from 120 a few years ago to nearly 200 manufacturing plants, an indication that industrial pharmacy in Nigeria is moving forward. He stated that a lot of investors are currently showing interest in producing drugs locally, adding that the industry is now moving from bad to good.
He however stated that the industry is not yet in the position it ought to be. He said “…but we’re not fully there until we start to produce Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) locally. Thankfully, efforts are underway to establish API plants.” Lending her voice to the current state of the association and industrial pharmacy practice in Nigeria, Dr Adeshina said, “We have built strong foundations, and so future leaders can now use them as a springboard.”
Counsel for incoming exco
As Pharm. Onuegbu-led exco takes a bow in a matter of days from now, and giving way for new exco members, one can only expect the incoming exco and its leader to up their game. While giving candid advice to his would-be successor and his/her exco members, Pharm. Onuegbu said “NAIP leadership is not a part-time job. It demands quality time, commitment, and sometimes personal sacrifice. But above all, the association’s interest must supersede individual interests.”
Stakeholders commend Onuegbu-led exco
The exploit of Pharm. Onuegbu-led exco has received commendation from notable personalities in the pharma industry. For instance, in his remark during the commissioning of NAIP House on 15 April, 2025, PSN president, Pharm. Ayuba commended Pharm. Onuegbu for his relentless effort, stating that his name has been written in gold in the anal of the history of the association. “Those who have been before Ken Onuegbu have done their part. Onuegbu has come and he has done his part, those coming behind should not use him as a benchmark, they should try and surpass Ken”, Pharm. Ayuba said.
Also, the Immediate Past President of PSN, Prof. Cyril Usifoh pointed out that industrial pharmacies have always been the solid rock to pharmacy practice and activities of PSN. He commended Pharm. Onuegbu for conceiving and attaining the NAIP House projects, even as he charged pharmacists to always dream big.
In the same vein, a former President of PSN, who chaired the NAIP commissioning ceremony, Pharm. Ibrahim Yakasai commended Pharm. Onuegbu and his predecessors for the effort to have gotten a permanent secretariat for NAIP. Pharm. Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Pharm. Azubike Okwor also paid glowing tributes to Pharm. Onuegbu, praising his resilience, doggedness and performance driven ideas as qualities worthy of emulation.
The Publisher of Pharmanews, Pharm. Ifeanyi Atueyi also commended the leadership of NAIP from inception till date. He specifically extolled and congratulated the incumbent chairman, Pharm. Onuegbu on the accomplishment of the NAIP House and other noble accomplishments during his tenure.
Similarly, the Chief Executive officer of Alpha Pharmacy, Sir Ike Onyechi commended Pharm. Onuegbu and his executive members for securing a permanent office for the association and other accomplishments. He specifically said hard work and the power of big dreams has enabled Pharm. Onuegbu to build on the foundation of his predecessor and accomplish the NAIP House.
