Pharmacy Academy urges urgent action to safeguard medicine security

–Holds AGM, investiture of new Fellows November 16–17 in Lagos

The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) has raised concerns over Nigeria’s alarming dependence on imported medicines, describing it as a threat to national and economic independence and calling for urgent action to safeguard medicine security.

The President and Chairman of NAPharm’s Governing Council, Professor Lere Baale, urged stakeholders to rise to the challenge, warning that the country’s dangerous dependence on imported medicines threatens national security.

He said the nation’s health security was inseparable from its economic security, scientific capability and national sovereignty.

Prof. Baale, who spoke in a statement signed by the Secretary of the Academy, Pharm. Lekan Asuni, ahead of its 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Investiture of New Fellows, said Nigeria must urgently and decisively address its heavy reliance on imported medicines.

The event, themed, “Pharmacy for National Health Security: Advancing Innovation, Medicine Sovereignty and Sustainable Healthcare,” is scheduled to hold on November 16 and 17, 2026, in Lagos.

“No country can claim genuine independence while remaining dangerously dependent on external sources for its essential medicines, critical pharmaceutical technologies and healthcare innovations.

“Nigeria must move decisively from dependence to capability, from fragmented interventions to integrated solutions, and from healthcare vulnerability to sustainable national resilience. Pharmacy must not merely respond to the future of healthcare; it must help design, shape and secure that future,” he said.

The renowned scholar further stressed that the Academy would continue to champion collaboration among government, academia, pharmaceutical manufacturers, regulatory institutions, healthcare professionals and development partners to translate scientific knowledge into measurable improvements in population health.

According to him, a major highlight of this year’s programme will be the keynote address by the World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative and Head of Mission in Nigeria, Dr Pavel Ursu, on Tuesday, November 17.

He said the theme reflects the Academy’s commitment to positioning pharmacy as a strategic pillar of national development, public health resilience, pharmaceutical innovation and sustainable access to quality medicines.

The formal investiture of new Fellows of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, scheduled to take place at the Old Great Hall, College of Medicine, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba, Lagos, will also be a major highlight of the programme.

The investiture recognises distinguished professional achievements, scholarship, leadership, innovation and outstanding contributions to pharmacy and society.

Professor Baale noted that the honour of Fellowship also comes with a responsibility to advance the profession and contribute to national development.

“Fellowship of the Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy is not simply an honour to be received; it is a responsibility to be discharged. Our Fellows must be architects of solutions, champions of innovation, mentors of future generations and courageous voices for policies that improve the health and well-being of Nigerians,” he said.

NAPharm also called for collective action to achieve universal health coverage, stressing that medicine security and sustainable healthcare could not be achieved through isolated interventions.

It said these goals required a coordinated national commitment to pharmaceutical research and development, local medicine production, workforce development, technology adoption, stronger health systems and policies that encourage investment and innovation.

The Academy said the 2026 AGM and Investiture would reinforce the need to make medicine sovereignty and health security national priorities, noting that pharmaceutical innovation remained essential to Nigeria’s future.