By Mercy Gadia Adi
Nigeria joined the rest of the world on Thursday to commemorate the 2025 World Pharmacists Day, with the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, describing pharmacists as strategic partners in building a healthier and more resilient society.
Speaking through Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Ayegbusi, Director overseeing the Office of the Permanent Secretary, during a ministerial press briefing in Abuja, Pate said pharmacists are no longer just dispensers of medicine but frontline health professionals who play a central role in preventive and curative healthcare delivery.
“Across Nigeria, pharmacists have emerged as frontline health professionals—accessible, trusted, and indispensable. From government cities to remote villages, they serve as the first point of contact for millions seeking healthcare guidance, medication, and preventive services,” the minister said.
He highlighted reforms introduced by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, including the National Drug Policy, the e-Pharmacy Policy, and the recently launched eighth edition of the National Essential Medicines List. These, he said, align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda on strengthening healthcare infrastructure, promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and investing in human capital development.
Pate praised the milestones achieved by Nigerian pharmacists, such as the establishment of a nationwide pharmacovigilance system through NAFDAC, increased local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and the expansion of clinical pharmacy practice in hospitals and primary healthcare centres.
He called on the private sector, development partners, and international stakeholders to invest in pharmacy education, workforce development, research, and regulatory enforcement to eliminate fake and substandard medicines.
“Nigeria is a big country, and we are going to be the hub of medicine in Africa. Together, we are shaping a future where every Nigerian has access to safe, effective, and affordable medicine,” Pate said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, represented by Mrs. Olufowobi Yusuf Adeola, described pharmacists as the backbone of medication in the health system, affirming the year’s theme, “Think Health, Think Pharmacists.”
Activities marking the maiden national commemoration included a medical outreach where pharmacists attended to civil servants and the general public, offering medical advice and medicines. Goodwill messages were delivered by NAFDAC, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Codix Pharmaceuticals, and MEBS.