Olubadan, Akintayo, others call for policy reforms to boost local drug production

–As Oyo PSN unveils first five-storey secretariat building

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja; former President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Olumide Akintayo; together with other pharmacy stakeholders, have called for deliberate policy reforms to strengthen local drug manufacturing and enhance medicine security in Nigeria.

The call was made during the commissioning of the Asiwaju Adebowale Omotosho Pharmacy House, a five-storey building unveiled by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Oyo State Branch, in Ibadan.

Speaking at the event, the Olubadan urged pharmacists to explore collaboration with traditional medicine practitioners, noting that many indigenous remedies possess medicinal properties that could be harnessed through scientific research and standardisation.

“If you know that everything you have here is not enough, please have an open mind to embrace traditional medicine. There are useful elements that can be extracted and developed for the benefit of society,” the monarch said.

He stressed the need to properly document and protect indigenous medicinal knowledge, adding that collaboration between pharmacists and traditional medicine practitioners could lead to innovations in healthcare delivery.

Chairman of PSN Oyo State, Pharm. (Col.) Victor Segun Ajanaku (Rtd), described local pharmaceutical manufacturing as critical to national healthcare development but lamented that the operating environment remained difficult for manufacturers and importers.

According to him, government policies often fail at the implementation stage, while access to foreign exchange and other incentives remains a major challenge.

“Government may announce waivers and incentives, but implementation remains the issue. Many pharmaceutical operators are struggling because they cannot access foreign exchange and other critical support required for business survival,” he said.

Ajanaku noted that the society was willing to collaborate with researchers and relevant institutions to explore the potential of indigenous medicinal products through scientific investigation and validation.

Also speaking, former President of PSN, Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, said Nigeria would continue to face challenges in medicine access and affordability unless deliberate efforts were made to support local pharmaceutical production.

He identified poor infrastructure, inadequate industrial policies, high energy costs, expensive financing, and dependence on imported raw materials as some of the major obstacles confronting the sector.

“You cannot manufacture with diesel and remain competitive globally. Government must create the enabling environment through infrastructure, affordable financing, and policies that support local manufacturers,” he said.

Akintayo explained that countries such as India and China had become major pharmaceutical hubs because of sustained government support, adding that Nigeria must adopt similar strategies if it hopes to achieve medicine security.

The donor and namesake of the building, Pharm. (Asiwaju) Adebowale Omotosho, also emphasised the need for policies that encourage pharmaceutical manufacturing.

Drawing from his experience as an industrial pharmacist, Omotosho said manufacturing requires patience, long-term investment, and a supportive business environment.

“People want quick returns, but manufacturing does not work that way. Before products gain market acceptance takes time, and without the right policies, many investors will be discouraged,” he said.

Omotosho, who founded Bond Chemical Industries Limited after years in community pharmacy and pharmaceutical distribution, noted that his support for the project was his way of giving back to a profession that had contributed immensely to his success.

“Whatever I have achieved financially came from pharmacy. Supporting the profession is a responsibility I gladly embrace,” he added.

The commissioning of the five-storey Pharmacy House also drew commendations from stakeholders who described the project as a symbol of progress and institutional development within the profession.

The event attracted pharmacists, traditional rulers, industry stakeholders, eminent Nigerians, PSN stakeholders from Lagos, Osun, Kwara and across the country.