In this exclusive interview with Adebayo Oladejo, the outgoing National President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), Ikrama Aliyu, shares his journey as a pharmacy student, the challenges and milestones of his administration, as well as his vision for the future of pharmacy education and student leadership in Nigeria.
Can you briefly introduce yourself, your academic background and journey so far as a pharmacy student?
I am a native of Zamfara State. I attended Barewa College, Zaria, for my high school education and subsequently gained admission into the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) to study Pharmacy. My journey as a pharmacy student has been both demanding and fulfilling. I engaged in numerous extracurricular activities, particularly in PANS leadership, where I rose through the ranks to become the 50th PANS National President in 2024.
What inspired you to study Pharmacy, and how has the journey shaped your outlook on healthcare in Nigeria?
My decision to study Pharmacy may have been divine, as I knew no pharmacist at the time. Initially, I had dreamed of attending a flying school, but when that did not immediately materialise, I opted for a healthcare course, one with diversity. Since then, I have had the privilege of participating in many healthcare initiatives, which exposed me to both the gaps and the progress in Nigeria’s health sector. These experiences have deeply shaped my outlook on healthcare delivery in the country.
Like every student leader, you must have faced challenges along the way. What personal challenges have you encountered, and what achievements are you most proud of?
The challenges were enormous – funding, sabotage, calumny, among others. But as Roy T. Bennett said, “Every challenge, every adversity, contains within it the seeds of opportunity and growth.” These difficulties shaped our achievements.
I am proud of all we accomplished, especially clearing age-long debts to the International Pharmaceutical Students Federation (IPSF), strengthening political advocacy and stakeholder engagements, expanding career and professional development (CPD) initiatives, and establishing scholarships, including research project funding for final-year pharmacy students.
Pharmacy students in Nigeria often struggle with inadequate infrastructure, outdated curricula, and limited access to digital health tools. From your perspective, what reforms are urgently needed in pharmacy education?
We urgently need curricular reform. While government interventions such as grants for infrastructure are commendable, the real transformation lies in innovation and collaboration across borders in training, research, and practice. The era of glorifying hardship in our faculties must end. Pharmacy students deserve a learning environment with modern systems and minimal unnecessary pressures.
With the Federal Government’s push for universal health coverage (UHC), how can pharmacy students and young pharmacists contribute to this goal?
Pharmacists are the first point of contact in healthcare delivery. Achieving UHC requires leveraging this workforce. Pharmacy students and young pharmacists can contribute by, expanding access to medicines, delivering pharmaceutical care, promoting preventive health, strengthening primary healthcare, driving innovation and research, and engaging in policy advocacy.
Globally, pharmacy is evolving towards biotechnology, personalised medicine, and digital innovations. Do you think Nigerian pharmacy schools are adequately preparing students for this future?
Not adequately. While biotechnology and personalised medicine get some attention, digital health innovations are largely absent. There is limited simulation, practical exposure, and industrial training. To prepare students for the future, we need modern learning systems, curricular overhaul, and international collaborations.
As your tenure winds down, what areas would you have loved to do more?
I wish we could have done more in entrepreneurship support, especially for students running MSMEs.
Funding, inclusivity, and representation remain recurring challenges for PANS. How did you and your team handle these, and what lasting structures should be put in place?
Funding is always the biggest challenge, as PANS lacks steady income or allocations from higher bodies. To address this, we pushed for reforms in capitation collection and are working on white papers for implementation. We are also advocating for allocations from higher bodies and planning a town hall. With these structures, PANS can start generating revenue and making long-term investments.
Finally, what message would you like to leave for pharmacy students across Nigeria and the incoming PANS leadership?
For the incoming leadership, leadership is continuity. We have already paid the IPSF membership fees, giving them a head start. They should consolidate on our achievements, innovate, and seek wisdom from experienced mentors.
To pharmacy students, it has been the honour of my life to serve you. Please learn beyond the classroom, evolve, and strive to represent the profession with professionalism and excellence.
