By Ifeoluwa D. Afolayan
The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) recently concluded a pivotal two-day Interactive Forum and Workshop, held on 3-4 April 2025, with provosts, principals, and heads of departments (HODs) from over 100 PCN-approved pharmacy technician training institutions, colleges/schools of health technology across Nigeria. Themed “Advancing the Training and Practice of Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria: Regulatory Perspective,” the event, held in Abuja, underscored the PCN’s proactive role in advancing pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
In attendance at the forum and workshop were the Director, Food and Drug Services, Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), represented by Pharm. Yakubu Bulama; Pharm. Azubike Okwor, FPSN, chairman of the occasion; the Chairperson, PCN Governing Council, Pharm. (Hajiya) Wosilat O. Giwa, FPSN; the President, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ayuba Tanko, FPSN; the Registrar, PCN, Pharm Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, FPSN; the immediate past Registrar, PCN, Dr N.A.E Mohammed, FPSN; Prof. Umar Usman Pateh, the keynote speaker; the retired Director of Pharmaceutical Services(DPS), Niger State, Pharm. Mohammed Alfa Isah; the DPS, Ondo State, Pharm. Oluwole Gbenga Lasekan; the ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Ezeh; the PSN Abuja Chairman, Pharm. Salamatu Orakwelu; the National President, Reformed Forum for Pharmacy Technicians in Nigeria (RFPTN), Pharm. Tech. Shagba Humphrey; and many more.
The forum served as a crucial platform for robust discussions and strategic planning aimed at elevating the standards of pharmacy technician education and addressing challenges associated with the sub-cadre training in Nigeria.
Noting the national issues that pertain to the training of pharmacy technicians in Nigeria, key discussion points during the interactive session included the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), midwifed by the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), to abolish the training of pharmaceutical technologists and streamline pharmacy technicians’ training – covering its details and implications, direct entry pathways and requirements for further education for graduates of colleges/schools of health technology; the indexing of students to improve quality assurance in the programme; and the criteria and impact of performance-based assessments for rating schools and determining admission quotas.
Participants and stakeholders at the event unanimously emphasised the urgent need for improved training facilities and to facilitate effective implementation of the curriculum for pharmacy technicians training.
The PCN reiterated its dedication to strengthening the regulatory framework for the training of pharmacy technicians. The Council highlighted its commitment to working collaboratively with relevant agencies and the training institutions to ensure adherence to quality standards and best practices. This commitment is seen as vital in producing graduates who can effectively support pharmacists in various healthcare settings, ultimately contributing to better patient care.
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