The International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Hub has appointed three eminent pharmacists of Pharm. (Mrs) Lizette Njideka Ezenekwe, national publicity secretary of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN); Dr Ukamaka Okafor, immediate past director of the Lagos Zonal Office, Pharmacy Council of Nigeria; and Pharm. Chima Amadi, a senior strategic manager within the United Kingdom Health System, as Global Lead for Development Goal 21, Global Lead for Development Goal 13, and Global Lead for Development Goals 13 &21 respectively.
These reputable appointments speak volume of their contributions to the advancement of pharmacy practice in shaping policies that will improve the competence and capacity of pharmacists globally as well as sustaining overall healthcare system.
The FIP developed 13 Pharmaceutical Workforce Development Goals (PWDGs) in 2016 to support the implementation of its vision for education and workforce. This was followed by the launch of a workforce and education report in Nanjing in 2017, reaffirming FIP’s commitment to assisting its members with the implementation of the PWDGs. Shortly afterwards, the Workforce Development Hub (WDH) was established to develop tools and frameworks for implementing the PWDGs. Thereafter, in 2019, the original 13 PWDGs evolved into 21 FIP Development Goals, encompassing the principal areas for advancing the pharmaceutical profession globally.
In a press statement made available to Pharmanewsonline, the apex pharmaceutical body disclosed the appointment of its new crop of Global Leads for DGs 13 and 21, showcasing their invaluable commitments to Pharmacy workforce advancement and capacity development.
Appointed as DG 21 Global Lead, Pharm. Ezenekwe’s immense contributions in three different aspect of Clinical Pharmacy, Climate Change and Law reveal the extraordinary experiences she is bringing on board at the FIP hub. Her unique roles as a distinguished clinical pharmacist and a climatologist, got her a dual appointment as a lecturer in both department of Clinical Pharmacy as well as department of Geography and Meteorology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, teaching clinical pharmacy and climate studies.
With specialty in public health, evidence- based clinical trials, climate change and Neglected Tropical Diseases, she has participated in high -powered international discourse on ethical issues centred around health and climate change, at a conference in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, under the sponsorship of the World Health Organisation.
A women leader per excellence, her incredible leadership quality was identified by the Chinese Government, which propelled their sponsorship of the multidisciplinary Ezenekwe for a three-week leadership seminar, designed for women officials from developing countries at Beijing china, in 2024.
The multifaceted pharmacist also recently bagged a degree from the Harvard Law School, where she studied mediation and conflict resolution, in addition to her several works published in peer-reviewed journals in public health and climatology.
As a DG 21 advocate, Ezenekwe will be lending her voice to issues of sustainability in global pharmacy practice, and overall healthcare system.
For Dr Ukamaka Okafor, her appointment as a DG 13 Global Lead, aligns with her previous contributions at the PCN, where she meritoriously served as director of Lagos Zonal Office. In her new role, she will be joining team members in shaping Pharmacy workforce policies, which will improve the competence and capacity of pharmacists globally.
A seasoned medicines regulator, health administrator, and public health professional; with vast experience in research, advocacy, health policy, public-private partnerships, private sector engagement, curriculum development, and capacity building, the versatile Okafor will be bringing her diverse wealth of knowledge to the FIP hub.
Sequel to her retirement as director of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, she has commenced the operation of a chain of retail private sector health company, in addition to being an Associate Professor of Global Health and Health Systems Research Research, at EUCLID University, an intergovernmental university with a United Nations Treaty. She also doubles as an Instructional Designer with the NextGenU, Minnesota, USA.
Apart from her numerous peer-reviewed publications, she is a peer reviewer for various notable international journals, and member of the editorial board of the Pharmacy Education Journal of the FIP and Journal of Public Health in Africa of the African Centre for Disease Control. She is also member, Afromed Scientific and Ethics Review Board of the Afromed Academy of Medical Research and Innovation, and an honorary member of the Africa Resource Centre for Excellence in Supply Chain Management (ARC_ESM) Expert Pool Platform.
Pharm. Chima Amadi, appointed as a Global Lead of FIP workforce development hub 13 and 21 Pharmacy workforce policy and sustainability in pharmacy practice, brings over a decade of work experience in pharmacy and public health in Nigeria, United States and United Kingdom, to his new position.
He works currently as a Senior Strategic Manager within the United Kingdom Health System where he leads a £30 million GBP project workstream to implement various public health interventions across London. Amadi has also served in several high level FIP global committees where he has contributed to shaping pharmacy education and practice around the world.
Additionally, he has spoken at various high level health summits like the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland; multiple FIP World Congresses, European Union Public Health Conferences etc. Chima is also a recipient of various awards, grants, and recognitions across the globe. These awards include the prestigious FIP Ton Hoek award, United States Roddenberry Grant award for health innovation, World Health Organisation COVID action grant winner, British Council Study UK Global award on innovation, recognition by the United Kingdom government as a Global talent in health tech innovation. He is also a Mandela Washington Fellow and a Commonwealth Scholar.
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