As part of efforts to prepare members for a more prosperous 2026, the Association of Lady Pharmacists (ALPs), Lagos State Chapter, has called on stakeholders to prioritise women empowerment as a critical driver of national and local economic growth. The call was made at the ALPs Forum 2025, the association’s annual end-of-year programme designed to enable members unwind, reflect, and retool for the year ahead.
The lady pharmacists underscored the importance of women empowerment in line with Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls, noting that empowered women are better positioned to build successful businesses, contribute meaningfully to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and support family and community development.
The ALPs 2025 Forum attracted key leaders in the pharmaceutical profession, including the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Tanko Ayuba; ALPs National Chairman, Pharm. (Mrs) Scholastica Lan; National Secretary, PSN, Pharm. Gafar Madahin; Chairman, PSN Lagos State, Pharm. Babayemi Oyekunle; Professor Arinola Joda; and the MD/CEO, Rozec Pharmacy, Pharm. (Mrs) Regina Ezenwa, alongside heads of institutions and organisations.
Commending the leadership of ALPs Lagos State, the PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba, praised the association’s visionary initiatives and community-focused programmes. He described lady pharmacists as compassionate and purpose-driven professionals whose interventions continue to support indigent girls and women. The number one pharmacist in the country reiterated PSN’s sustained support for the interest group.
In her remarks, the National ALPs Chairman, Pharm. (Mrs) Lan, congratulated members on a successful year and urged them to equip themselves with the right information and resources to remain solution providers within their communities. She described the forum as a platform for connection, networking, and discovery, aimed at driving meaningful impact within the pharmaceutical space.
Speaking on the relevance of the forum’s theme, “Empowered Women, Empowered Economy: Strategies for Financial Stability,” the PSN Lagos State Chairman, Pharm. Oyekunle, said the theme was timely, noting that women play a pivotal role in driving the health economy of any nation. According to him, financially empowered women are better positioned to make informed health and business decisions for their families, communities, and the nation at large.
He noted that empowered women invest a greater proportion of their income into local economies, thereby stimulating growth, while also serving as role models and mentors to younger generations. “This forum provides practical strategies to translate professional success into sustainable financial stability, ensuring that African pharmacists can fully unlock their economic potential. I encourage participants to engage actively, absorb the strategies shared, and apply them courageously within their practices and the broader Lagos State economy,” he said.
Delivering the keynote address on “Empowered Women, Empowered Economy: Strategies for Financial Stability,” Pharm. (Mrs) Regina Ezenwa emphasised that empowering women is fundamental to building strong economies. She noted that when women thrive, nations thrive, urging lady pharmacists to be intentional about developing entrepreneurial and financial skills alongside their professional competencies.
Further reinforcing the case for empowerment, Ezenwa, who is also the founder of Roses Ministry, shared data revealing that while women make up over 50 per cent of the global health workforce, only about six per cent of women entrepreneurs have access to credit facilities. She described the gap as a critical challenge that demands urgent attention.
She advised her colleagues to understand their financial numbers, monitor cash flow, diversify income streams, leverage professional networks for strategic partnerships, invest consistently, and collaborate boldly for sustainable growth.
In an interview with Pharmanewsonline, the Chairman, ALPs Lagos State, Pharm. Yewande Olorunsola, expressed gratitude to God for a fulfilling year marked by impactful programmes. She highlighted key activities undertaken by the association in 2025, including the Drug Abuse Prevention and Moral School Campaign in April; Drug Abuse Prevention Awareness and advocacy against illicit drug trafficking on 26 June; the International Day of the Girl Child celebration at Keke High School, Ijaye Housing Estate; Cancer Awareness Day at Ikeja Local Government Hall; a philanthropic visit to a destitute home in Idimu on 23 November; and the Adolescent Refill Club outreach at Ajeromi on 14 December.
In her closing remarks, the Chairman of the 2025 Forum Organising Committee, Pharm. (Pastor) Foluke Akinniranye, said the event was designed to bring lady pharmacists together to appreciate God’s faithfulness throughout the year and celebrate shared achievements. She described the theme as highly appropriate, noting that empowering women strengthens families, communities, and the national economy.
She also appreciated all sponsors of the programme, including Pharmanews, and led participants in a minute of silence in honour of the late Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, a strong supporter of the ALPs Forum.
,%20Lagos%20State%20Chapter,%20has%20called){kind=link}