The presence of Pharmanews at the ongoing 98th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Kano carried a deep emotional undertone, one that spoke not only of continuity but of legacy, resilience, and remembrance.
For the first time in decades, the nation’s foremost Pharmacy gathering held without the physical presence of the late Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, the iconic founder and publisher of Pharmanews, whose name had become synonymous with the PSN conference circuit.
The elder statesman, who passed on earlier this year, was celebrated during the 2024 PSN Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, for his record 50th consecutive attendance, an extraordinary feat that cemented his place in the annals of Nigerian Pharmacy.
This year, however, his legacy came alive in a new form, as his son and successor, Dozie Ifeanyi Atueyi, attended his first PSN conference as the new Executive Director of Pharmanews. His introduction to the Pharmacy community was met with warmth and emotion, as colleagues, industry leaders, and delegates paid tribute to his father’s towering contributions while welcoming the younger Atueyi into the fold.
“It was an overwhelming moment,” Dozie recounted in a note shared after the opening day. “Pharmanews successfully participated and covered the event. I was pleasantly recognised by the MC upon arrival.”
The atmosphere grew poignant when a speaker asked any pharmacist above 80 years of age to stand — and no one did. “The speaker then remarked that if our esteemed colleague, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, had been present, he would surely have led the elder pharmacists to the conference,” Dozie noted. “It was a truly emotional moment.”
As he moved across the conference venue, Dozie met with many of the profession’s stalwarts — including the executive members of the Nigerian Association of Pharmacists and Pharmaceutical Scientists in the Americas (NAPPSA), who had played a remarkable role in honouring his father during his final rites. “I expressed our appreciation for their immense support,” he said, describing the meeting as both heartwarming and symbolic.
The transition at Pharmanews represents not just a change in leadership but a continuation of vision — the enduring commitment to document, celebrate, and advance the Pharmacy profession in Nigeria and beyond.
Under Sir Atueyi’s leadership, Pharmanews evolved from a modest professional newsletter into the continent’s most consistent and respected health publication. Now, his son inherits not just the title of the Executive Director but a generational mission to preserve a legacy of truth, excellence, and devotion to the Pharmacy family.
As the conference unfolds, many attendees say the younger Atueyi’s presence is a reminder that while a golden era may have passed, the flame of Pharmanews, and of the Atueyi’s name continues to burn brightly in the heart of Nigerian Pharmacy.
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