…Energises local contract manufacturing
The Managing Director, Pharmanews Limited, Pharm. (Sir) Ifeanyi Atueyi, has commended the leadership of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) for the indispensable roles they are playing in the pharmaceutical sector.
The Pharmanews Publisher gave the commendation when the executives of the association, led by its National Chairman, Pharm. Ken Onuegbu paid a courtesy visit to Pharmanews office on Thursday.
Receiving the guests, Atueyi stated that NAIP is the most important technical arm of PSN, as their operations in the country determine the growth of pharmaceutical sector, hence the role of NAIP is very vital to the development of the industry.
He said “I appreciate what you have been doing in the industry because that is the heart of Pharmacy. I am happy that I have close association with your technical section from inception. NAIP is the first technical section in the industry. I was the secretary in 1978 but I checked out in 1979; but we have been relating since.
Pharmanews has been relating with the industry since and we appreciate the industry because without it, we cannot exist. NAIP technical section is the most important of all the technical arms because the section generates more money than others.
“The level of Pharmacy depends on how the industry has developed. I admire the leadership of the group. Your predecessor did well, so I have no doubt that you will also do well. I am also optimistic that your tenure will be memorable and remembered for many good things. I know your team will give you maximum support to achieve good result together”, Atueyi said.
The NAIP National Chairman said delegates decided to visit Pharmanews to acquaint the publisher with the programme of the association and also officially inform him of the association’s upcoming Annual National Conference tagged “EKO 2022”.
According to him, the conference is scheduled to hold from 14 to 16 June, 2022, with a welcoming cocktail on 14 June, while the conference proper comes up on 15 June.
Onuegbu said the conference will hold at Providence Hotel, 12a, Oba Akinjobi Way, Ikeja, Lagos and the theme of the conference “The Roles Of Industrial Pharmacists In A Depressed Economy: Opportunities, Challenges And Solutions In Providing Essential Drugs”. The Keynote Speaker for the conference is the Chairman/CEO, Juhel Pharma Nig. Ltd., Pharm (Dr) Ifeanyi Okoye.
Other sub-themes includes “Professional Collaboration and Coordination as a Panacea to Industrial Growth”; Technology Regulation and Data Centricity in Strengthening Local Capacity as Pharma Industries Evolve, NAPA-NAIP, Example”, and “The Role Of Pharmacists in Vaccine Interventions”. The event is expected to be chaired by the former President of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) who is also the Chairman, Evans Baroque Pharma Ltd., Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakassai.
The speaker for the plenary sessions at the event, according to Onuegbu are Vice-Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Anambra, Prof. Okey Esimoni; MD, Impact Pharmaceutical Ltd., Pharm. Jasper Onyeka and the Chairman/CEO, The Anchor Healthcare Ltd., Pharm. Steve Onya. The CEO Netherlands Business School, Lagos, Professor Lere Baale is expected to be the lead discussant.
The NAIP Chairman said “I feel highly excited and fulfilling to visit our Icon of Pharmacy. We appreciate you for your tremendous roles to move the industry forward. We came to tell you where we are and some of our programs. One of the challenges we are having today is in the area of balancing the equation in the industry; we have always said we have ratio of 70% import to 30% local, but if you asked me, I will say it is more than that because almost all our APIs are imported.
“So what we are doing is to make the necessary noise so that Nigerian government will know where we are. We are promoting API production, at least the basic ones and I am happy to say that some companies are already making some commendable moves. We also want to energise local contract production, because that is the only we can guarantee medicine security in the whole country because it is a national matter”, he said.
Pharm. Onuegbu also pointed out that the association is expanding its hand of fellowship by engaging in a lot of collaborations such as the partnership between NAIP and the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists in Academia (NAPA). He stated that the NAIP – NAPA collaboration has given birth to two different products, adding that the association is making effort to register the products with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control in Nigeria (NAFDAC) through National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), so that the masses can have access to the products and enjoy the full benefit.
“We are also in partnership with the National Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA). We have a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in setting up a mini laboratory that we can use to test food and drugs. The move is receiving the utmost attention and it is a way we think we can task our colleagues in diaspora to give back to the Nigerian society”, Onuegbu explained .
He also stated that the association is building on its core value and ensure that its members benefit immensely. He said “we have NAIP Estate in Ogun State, we are trying to resolve every issue on the estate so that members who bought land can get it as soon as possible. We are also giving the Pharma Park in Ebonyi State the needed attention, we have established Special Purpose Vehicle, headed by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa. Work will start on the site very soon”.
Meanwhile, the NAIP Chairman has disclosed that his major agenda is to build NAIP House. “One major project I have identified is the NAIP House. We have been moving from one place to another. A body like NAIP is supposed to have its own house. I believe it is high time we have our own house. It is an important agenda that is very dear to my heart and I believe with support of all our members, we will achieve it”.
He also stated that the association in the last one year has achieved the highest growth in its history. “We are trying to grow our members, as of last year, we don’t have up to 50 members from Anambra state, but as we speak now, we have about 91 members, so after Lagos, Anambra has the highest members. We also inaugurated Plateau Zonal Branch about two weeks ago; so we are seeing the highest growth in NAIP”, he said.
Pharm. Atueyi, who expressed satisfaction with the lineup programme of the association, urged the chairman to handover the plan to God. He expressed optimism that with God, the project will be accomplished.
The Editor of Pharmanews, Mr Patrick Iwelunmor, in his remarks, commended the NAIP executives for their effort towards the development of the pharmaceutical industry as he urged the association to be innovative in its endeavours, even as he assured the association of Pharmanews support.
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