Octogenarian pharmacist and former Registrar of the then Pharmacists Board of Nigeria (PBN) – now Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) – Pharm. Moses Chiedozi Azuike, has had an illustrious career in pharmacy regulation. As registrar of the PBN, he worked closely with Prof. Gabriel Osuide and the late Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti towards the establishment of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). In this interview with Moses Dike, Azuike reflects on the evolution of pharmacy practice regulation in Nigeria and the key milestones that led to the founding of NAFDAC. He also shares insights into his educational background and the experiences that influenced his choice of Pharmacy as a career. Excerpts:
It’s a pleasure to feature you in our Senior Citizen’s column. Could you please share a bit about yourself? What were your childhood experiences like, and how did your education and early life shape who you are today?
Thank you for this interview. I am an octogenarian – in fact, I would say I’m now in Room 7 of the eighth floor of life! I give all glory to God. I hail from a town called Egbu, about three kilometres from Owerri, the Imo State capital. My family could be described as a large nuclear family. I am the sixth child and fourth son in a household of six boys and three girls.
In those days, it was common in my part of the country for couples to have many children—10 or 12 was the usual target. We had no close relatives with the same surname, as both my father and grandfather were the only surviving male children of their respective families. Ours was therefore a close-knit household.
My father was fortunate to benefit from the arrival of the Anglican Church Mission in our area, which gave him the opportunity to become educated and take up teaching as a career. However, shortly after I was born in the early 1940s, he returned home to manage our family land estate, which consisted of several large plots across the town.
I began life as a boy in the village. When I was around six or seven, I accompanied my elder brothers—who had just completed primary school and taken up teaching jobs—to their stations. Most of my early primary education was outside my hometown. However, I spent the final three years (1950–1952) at home to enjoy family life. The school in our town was large and attracted pupils from far and wide.
In 1953, I gained admission to Saint Augustine’s Grammar School, Nkwerre, a prominent Anglican Mission secondary school in the then Owerri Province. I completed my secondary education in 1957, and in 1958 proceeded to the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology, Ibadan branch, to study Pharmacy.
My childhood was shaped by discipline—instilled by my parents, schoolteachers, and the church. I assisted with household chores like fetching water, gathering firewood, and working on the farm. These experiences, along with my time in a mission boarding school, instilled a strong work ethic and self-discipline that have served me well.
What inspired you to pursue a career in Pharmacy? Were there any role models or specific influences?
I was inspired by a late colleague, Dr Sam Opara, who was the younger brother of my eldest sister’s husband. He was finishing his Pharmacy course at the School of Pharmacy, Yaba, while I was in my third year of secondary school.
After he qualified and became a registered pharmacist, I observed how well he was doing. He was respected, admired, and his career seemed promising. So, when I completed my secondary school education, I applied to study Pharmacy without hesitation, and I have never regretted that decision.
Could you walk us through your career path in Pharmacy, especially the highlights and milestones?
I qualified and registered as a pharmacist in 1964 and began my career in public service at the General Hospital, Lagos, on 1 June 1964. I worked there until September 1966, when the University of Ife invited our 1964 cohort to upgrade our diploma to a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree during the 1966/1967 session.
After completing the upgrade in June 1967, I returned to the Eastern Region and joined the University of Biafra Teaching Hospital. Following the civil war, I resumed with the Federal Ministry of Health and was posted to the Federal Medical Stores, Oshodi, where I worked in drug supply logistics for federal hospitals.
Later, I was transferred to the Pharmaceutical Inspectorate Unit, overseeing inspections of imported pharmaceuticals at the Apapa and Lagos seaports, and the Ikeja Airport. Eventually, I was posted to the Ministry headquarters, where I served under the chief pharmacist in an administrative role.
From January 1979 to December 1986, I served as registrar/secretary of the Pharmacists Board of Nigeria (PBN). From January 1987 to December 1992, I was deputy director in charge of the Drug Control Directorate within the Pharmaceutical Services Department. Following the creation of NAFDAC in January 1993, I became one of its pioneer directors, heading the Directorate for Narcotics and Controlled Substances until my retirement.
That’s quite a journey. What are your thoughts on how pharmacy practice has evolved in Nigeria, and where would you like to see more improvement?
In over 60 years of practice, I have witnessed remarkable progress across all aspects of the pharmacy profession—hospital, industrial, community, and academic sectors. The profession has grown appreciably, and that deserves commendation.
However, life is dynamic, and there’s always room for improvement. One area that requires urgent attention is the fight against fake and counterfeit drugs. The relevant laws must be enforced consistently across the country.
Specifically, the implementation of the national drug distribution policy, which is already approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and agreed upon by industry stakeholders, must no longer be delayed. Its effective rollout will help streamline supply chains and reduce the proliferation of substandard medicines.
At some point in your career, you were the registrar of the Pharmacists Board of Nigeria, now known as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN). How has the tempo of regulating pharmacy practice changed compared to your time?
I would say that the regulation of pharmacy practice in Nigeria has changed and continues to change for the better. During my time as registrar/secretary of the Pharmacists Board of Nigeria, the work was still very much in its pioneering phase. That journey began before me, with Chief A.A. Egboh, followed by Pharm. A. Sonubi and S.O. Coker.
After I left the office about 39 years ago, the pioneering work continued through Late Mrs Okusanya, Pharm. A.A. Brown, Pharm. Kayit, and later extended to Pharm. J.A. Mora, Elijah Mohammed, and now Ibrahim Babashehu, all with the support of various Board and Council chairmen.
As you know, effective regulation must be backed by sound legislation. Initially, pharmacy practice in Nigeria was tethered to the Federal Ministry of Health. Under the old Pharmacy Ordinance of 1958, the chairman of the Pharmacy Board was the chief medical adviser to the Federation. The first major breakthrough came in 1964, with the enactment of the Pharmacists Act, which allowed the Board to be composed entirely of pharmacists—although the chief pharmacist in the Ministry still served as chairman.
The profession was eventually liberated from this arrangement with the promulgation of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Decree in 1992, which transformed the Board into a Council. This change allowed for a chairman to be appointed from among pharmacists outside the Ministry of Health. It also enabled the Council to directly employ the registrar as its staff. The first appointees under this new structure were Pharm. Patience Oviasu as chairman and Pharm. Kayit as Registrar.
Following this, the Council expanded the registrar’s office, which, until then, had essentially functioned as a one-man post, with staff seconded from the ministry. Responsibilities like inspectorate duties and registration/licencing, previously handled by state directors of pharmaceutical services, were gradually absorbed into the Council’s structure.
Today, things have significantly advanced. The present Pharmacy Council now has offices in all states of the federation. The recently enacted Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2022, has further strengthened the Council’s regulatory powers, expanding its mandate to cover all facets of pharmacy practice, including oversight of patent medicine vendors, pharmacy technicians, and more.
Please share some of the most memorable moments or events in your career. Why do these moments stand out?
One of the most memorable moments of my career was the establishment of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The official announcement was made on the radio and television on the evening of 31 December 1992. I was in the east at the time, enjoying the Christmas and New Year holidays with my family.
Before that announcement, we had the department of Food and Drug Administration and Control (FDAC) within the Federal Ministry of Health—a merger of the Pharmaceutical Services Department and the ministry’s Chemistry Division. Prof. Gabriel Osuide was brought in from the University of Benin by the then Minister of Health, Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, to head the Department after Prof. Essien left for another national assignment.
Soon after assuming duty, Prof. Osuide was directed by the Honourable Minister to draft a decree that would transform the department into a full-fledged agency. He worked tirelessly on this task, involving all of us who were his lieutenants. When the effort eventually bore fruit, the joy was immeasurable.
Some officials within the ministry were not pleased with the development and did not offer meaningful support, especially concerning the provision of a take-off grant for the new agency. However, through Prof. Osuide’s strong personal networks and influence, a take-off grant was eventually secured and included in the 1993 federal budget. The rest, as they say, is history.
Are there any other remarkable experiences or services outside pharmacy practice that you would like to share?
Yes, another memorable experience was my involvement in the Festac ’77 Festival. A few of us from the Federal Ministry of Health were drafted to provide healthcare services for all participants throughout the duration of the event. Our team included doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and physiotherapists.
We carried out our duties diligently and interacted extensively with participants from various African countries. At the close of the festival, we were all issued formal letters of commendation from the government. It was a proud moment.
As an octogenarian, how have time and age influenced your lifestyle? How have you adapted to the challenges that come with ageing?
As human beings, none of us can escape the effects of time and age. Naturally, as one grows older, the pace of life slows. Activities you once handled easily at 40 or 50 become more demanding.
In my younger years, I thoroughly enjoyed driving. I remember a time I drove to the east more than four times in a single year. But with age, such frequent travel is no longer feasible. I now avoid driving within Lagos entirely and must engage a driver when I need to go out.
Similarly, I have withdrawn from actively participating in many town union and social club meetings. Even at home, I’ve had to let go of chores such as lifting heavy boxes, fixing nails, or changing electric bulbs. My diet has also changed; I eat very little these days.
How do you relax? What pastime activities you adopted to stay fit and active?
For relaxation, I enjoy listening to music, especially church hymns. In my younger days, I played lawn tennis at the Nigerian Railway premises. I also enjoy reading, particularly biographies of prominent individuals.
Tell us about your family. Did any of your children follow in your footsteps and pursue Pharmacy or health-related professions?
I have a family of six children, four daughters and two sons, and nine grandchildren. None of my children studied Pharmacy, but they are all doing well in their chosen fields. Interestingly, one of my granddaughters graduated as a pharmacist last year and is currently completing her internship. Another granddaughter is in her second year of a Pharm.D programme. We give God all the glory.
Finally, given your wealth of experience, what advice would you give to the younger generation of pharmacists on how to make the most of their calling to impact humanity positively?
To the younger generation of pharmacists, I encourage them to take pride in the profession they’ve chosen. Pharmacy has evolved and gained much public recognition.
Whatever area of practice they find themselves in, they should work hard and remain committed. They should also always seek to expand their knowledge by reading widely and attending seminars and conferences. They must keep learning and stay passionate—because Pharmacy has the power to truly touch lives.
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