Ahead of the inaugural Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi Memorial Lecture, Mr Dozie Atueyi, executive director of Pharmanews Limited, speaks on the life, legacy and enduring impact of his father, the late Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi. In this exclusive interview, he shares the inspiration behind the memorial lecture, the values that defined Sir Atueyi’s life, and the vision for preserving and advancing a legacy that has shaped healthcare journalism and pharmacy practice in Nigeria and beyond. He also offers insights into the future of Pharmanews and the lessons the next generation can draw from a man whose commitment to integrity, service and knowledge-driven progress continues to inspire many. Excerpts:
As the first anniversary of your father’s passing approaches, what emotions and reflections come to mind as you prepare to host his inaugural memorial lecture?
This season is a very emotional moment for me, our family, and the entire Pharmanews community. It was just over a year ago that he fell ill, leading to a sequence of events that changed our lives forever. My father was not only the founder of Pharmanews; he was our boss, mentor and a strong influence in our lives. His absence is felt every day.
At the same time, there is a sense of gratitude. We are grateful for a life well lived, for the countless lives he impacted, and for the legacy he left behind. As we prepare for this inaugural memorial lecture, I find myself reflecting not only on what he accomplished but on who he was: a man who believed deeply in service, excellence and the transformative power of information.
This memorial lecture is therefore both a remembrance and a celebration. It is an opportunity to honour his contributions, while inspiring others to continue the work of building a stronger healthcare system and a more informed society.
Your father devoted nearly five decades to building Pharmanews into a respected voice in healthcare and Pharmacy. What do you consider his most enduring contribution to the profession?
I believe his most enduring contribution was creating a platform that consistently gave healthcare professionals a voice and connected stakeholders across the healthcare ecosystem.
At a time when healthcare journalism was not widely appreciated or prioritised, he understood that quality healthcare depended not only on medicines and hospitals but also on communication, advocacy and informed public discourse. Through Pharmanews, he elevated conversations around pharmacy practice, health policy, pharmaceutical manufacturing, regulation and patient care.
Beyond publishing news, he helped shape a culture of professional engagement and accountability. He created a trusted platform where ideas could be exchanged and where critical issues affecting healthcare could be discussed openly and constructively. That contribution continues to influence the profession today.
Why did the family and Pharmanews decide that a memorial lecture would be the most fitting way to honour his memory and legacy?
My father was, above all, a man of ideas. He believed in dialogue, learning and continuous improvement. He spent much of his life creating platforms for conversations that could advance healthcare and society.
For that reason, we felt that a memorial lecture would be far more meaningful than a purely ceremonial event. It allows us to continue the conversations that mattered to him. It creates a forum where leaders, professionals, policymakers, academics and students can come together to address important issues affecting healthcare and society at large.
In many ways, the memorial lecture reflects the essence of who he was: a bridge builder, a communicator, and a lifelong advocate for knowledge-driven progress.
Can you share the vision behind this maiden memorial lecture and what participants should expect from the event?
The vision is to establish a respected intellectual platform that contributes meaningfully to the advancement of healthcare, communication and leadership, nationally and globally.
Participants should expect thoughtful discussions, practical insights, and forward-looking perspectives from distinguished speakers and industry leaders. We want the event to challenge assumptions, stimulate new thinking, and encourage collaboration among stakeholders.
Most importantly, we want participants to leave inspired; not only by the memory of Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi but also by a renewed commitment to making a positive difference within their respective spheres of influence.
Many tributes have described Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi as a man of integrity, purpose, and service. Which of his personal values do you believe are most needed in Nigeria’s healthcare sector today?
If I had to identify one value, it would be integrity. My father believed that credibility was one’s most valuable asset. He understood that trust is the foundation upon which healthcare systems, institutions and professional relationships are built.
Alongside integrity, I would highlight courage and service. He was never afraid to ask difficult questions, challenge prevailing assumptions, or advocate for what he believed was right. At the same time, he viewed leadership as service rather than privilege.
In today’s healthcare environment, where we face complex challenges ranging from access and affordability to workforce retention and public trust, these values remain as relevant as ever.
As someone who has assumed leadership at Pharmanews, how has your father’s legacy influenced your approach to steering the organisation into its next chapter?
One of the greatest lessons I learned from my father is that institutions must evolve without losing their core purpose. While the media landscape is changing rapidly, the mission of Pharmanews remains the same: to inform, educate, connect, and advocate for a better healthcare system.
His legacy inspires me to preserve the values that made Pharmanews trusted while embracing innovation and new opportunities. We are expanding our reach, strengthening our digital presence, exploring new partnerships, and engaging younger audiences, but always with the same commitment to quality, professionalism, and credibility.
I often ask myself a simple question: “Would this decision strengthen the trust that people have placed in Pharmanews?” That mindset continues to guide my leadership.
What lessons from your father’s life and career would you like young pharmacists, healthcare professionals, and media practitioners to take away from this memorial lecture?
The first lesson is that impact takes time. My father’s achievements were not built overnight. They were the result of decades of consistency, discipline and perseverance.
The second lesson is that purpose matters. He was driven by a vision larger than personal success. He wanted to contribute to the advancement of healthcare and to create something that would outlive him. I have never met anyone that was more convinced of his purpose in life than my father.
The third lesson is that relationships matter. Throughout his life, he invested in people, built networks, mentored younger professionals, and treated others with respect. Many of the tributes we received after his passing reflected not only what he accomplished but how he made people feel.
I hope young professionals will understand that true success is measured not merely by titles or achievements but by the positive impact we have on others.
Looking beyond this year’s event, how do you hope the Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi Memorial Lecture will evolve in the coming years, and what impact do you want it to have on the pharmacy profession and healthcare communication in Africa?
Our aspiration is for the Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi Memorial Lecture to become one of Africa’s leading platforms for thought leadership in pharmacy, healthcare policy, communication and service.
We hope it will attract respected voices from across Africa and beyond, generate meaningful ideas, influence policy discussions, and inspire future generations of leaders and communicators.
Most importantly, we want it to embody the values that defined Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi’s life: integrity, excellence, service, innovation and a commitment to the public good.
If, in the years ahead, this lecture helps shape better healthcare outcomes, strengthens professional collaboration, and inspires young people to pursue lives of purpose and impact, then we would have honoured his memory in the most meaningful way possible.
