The drive to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector through strategic partnerships and regulatory innovation took centre stage at the ongoing 98th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), tagged DABO 2025, held at Bayero University, Kano, with the theme “Pharmacy Forward: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Performance, Collaboration and Health Transformation.”
Delivering his speech as Guest of Honour, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, managing director and chief executive officer of the Nigerian Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to supporting pharmaceutical investment and innovation within Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones.
He described pharmacists as trusted professionals whose expertise and values align with NEPZA’s mission and the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, NEPZA recognises the immense potential of the pharmaceutical sector to drive industrial growth, create jobs and enhance access to quality medicines. He stated that with the right infrastructure, incentives and partnerships, Nigeria could become a hub for high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and innovation.
Dr Ogunyemi explained that NEPZA, established in 1992 to license, regulate and manage the nation’s free trade zones, currently oversees about 63 zones hosting nearly 600 companies and enterprises, including the Kano Free Trade Zone, the second to be established in Nigeria.
He added that the zones offer state-of-the-art infrastructure, streamlined regulations and tax incentives designed to attract and retain investors, stressing that for pharmaceutical firms, these advantages translate to faster regulatory approvals, access to global markets through trade agreements and enhanced support for research, production and distribution.
He urged local and multinational pharmaceutical companies to take advantage of the free trade zone opportunities by locating their production, packaging and distribution operations within these zones, noting that such moves would help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imports and strengthen local capacity.
“We want more pharmaceutical manufacturers to leverage our platform to focus on what truly matters — developing life-saving medicines, improving healthcare outcomes and contributing to Nigeria’s economic diversification,” he said.
Representing the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, at the event, Dr Rametu Momodu, director of Narcotics and Controlled Substances, reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to regulatory reform and technological advancement in pharmaceutical oversight. She noted that the conference theme aligns with NAFDAC’s mission of safeguarding public health through innovation, collaboration and regulatory excellence.
Dr Momodu remarked that as global healthcare evolves, technology, data and patient expectations are reshaping how services are delivered. To remain relevant, she said, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals must embrace digital transformation, invest in skill development and strengthen partnerships across all sectors. Under Prof. Adeyeye’s leadership, NAFDAC has achieved several milestones, including attaining and maintaining WHO Maturity Level 3 for medicines and vaccines regulation, the first in Africa; becoming the first national regulatory authority benchmarked by WHO for medical devices and in-vitro diagnostics; and successfully closing illegal open drug markets in Lagos, Onitsha and Anambra in collaboration with security agencies.
She emphasised that NAFDAC would continue to work closely with PSN and other professional bodies to ensure a transparent, science-driven regulatory system that promotes innovation while protecting public health.
Also delivering a goodwill message, former Minister of Health and Past President of PSN, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, speaking on behalf of the College of Distinguished Past Presidents, urged pharmacists to intensify advocacy and public engagement to elevate pharmacy’s visibility in national discourse.
He noted that pharmacy remains under-mentioned in major national conversations and that the forthcoming PSN Centenary Celebration offers a golden opportunity to change that narrative through sustained advocacy showcasing the profession’s relevance and promise.
Similarly, Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai, former PSN President and representative of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm), commended PSN for sustaining an enduring professional platform that continues to shape discussions around pharmacy education, research and practice. He reaffirmed NAPharm’s readiness to collaborate with PSN, regulatory agencies and government institutions to drive mentorship, research funding and innovation across the sector.
