The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAP) has called for deeper collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to strengthen pharmaceutical innovation and advance national development.
Speaking at the 2025 Investiture and Public Lecture held in Lagos, the Academy’s President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Lere Baale, said Nigeria must prioritise self-sufficiency in pharmaceutical research and production to ensure national health security.
“We need to reduce dependence. We must be independent,” Baale said. “Pharmaceutical innovation is not just science; it is governance, business, and above all, nation building.”
Themed “Pharmaceutical Innovation and Nation Building,” the event brought together pharmacists, academics, regulators, and policymakers to discuss ways to transform Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape and boost local production capacity.
Prof. Baale, who also heads the Nigerian School of Pharmacy and CU Business School in the Netherlands, recalled the early challenges of marketing pharmaceutical products in Nigeria and urged stakeholders to learn from successful models abroad.
“When I first came to Nigeria, I had to go to places like Ajegunlé to sell products. Now I know better. India has become the pharmacy of the world, Rwanda is building its own — Nigeria must change, too,” he said.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted ongoing reforms aimed at improving the quality and competitiveness of locally manufactured medicines.
“Nigeria now has two WHO-prequalified medicine manufacturers and the first WHO-prequalified medical device company,” Adeyeye said. “Without academia, we cannot drive research and development. Our staff now earn master’s and PhD degrees while serving full-time — that’s part of nation building.”
She added that NAFDAC has strengthened partnerships between universities and private companies through collaborations with the University of Lagos and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, to expand research and innovation in pharmaceutical science.
Delivering the keynote address, Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Mr. Wale Oyedeji, described innovation and collaboration as central to repositioning Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.
“Pharmaceutical innovation is science, business, governance, and nation building,” he said. “We must challenge practitioners to invest more than 0.2 per cent in R&D and focus on local solutions. India looked within and transformed its healthcare system — Nigeria can do even better.”
Oyedeji warned that dependence on imported medicines, low research investment, and brain drain continued to stifle the sector’s growth.
The event also featured a valedictory session in honour of the late Pharm. Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe, a pioneer of modern pharmacy education in Nigeria. Prof. Baale praised his legacy of discipline, scholarship, and service, urging new Fellows to uphold those values.
A total of 14 new Fellows were inducted, while six professionals received honorary recognition for their contributions to health, research, and pharmaceutical excellence.
Recipients of the Lifetime Achievement Award—the Academy’s highest honour—were Chief Theophilous Adebowale Omotosho (Bond Chemical Industries Limited), Dr. Fidelis Ayebae (former CEO, Fidson Healthcare Plc), Pharm. Stella Okoli (Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited), and Prof. Gabriel Osuide, the first Director-General of NAFDAC.
Other Honorary Fellowship Award recipients included Pharm. Ebenezer Adeleke, Sayyid Atana, Dr. Obiora Chukwuka, Pharm. Alfred Osinoiki, Auwalu Rano, and Varkey Verghese, all recognised for their exceptional contributions to the pharmaceutical profession and national development.
