The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, formally opened its 98th Annual National Conference, tagged 'DABO 2025'.
Holding at the Convocation Hall, Bayero University, Kano, with a strong call for a transformative, future-ready pharmacy workforce, the conference is themed: “Pharmacy Forward: Building a Future-Ready Workforce for Performance, Collaboration, and Transformation.”
The high-profile opening ceremony brought together the who’s who in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape, including policy leaders, regulatory authorities, academics, innovators, industrial pharmacists, community and hospital pharmacists, development partners, and top government officials. Also present were several past Presidents of the PSN, reflecting the significance of the annual gathering—one of the most anticipated events in Nigeria’s health sector.
Declaring the conference open, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and Host of DABO 2025, expressed optimism that the event would shape the future of pharmacy practice in Nigeria and reposition the profession for global relevance.
According to him, the 2025 conference represents “a critical moment for reflection, innovation, and strategic repositioning of the Nigerian pharmacy workforce.”
Speaking on his stewardship so far, Pharm. Ayuba highlighted key achievements from his one-year scorecard, including strengthened advocacy, enhanced professional visibility, expansion of collaborative engagements, and renewed focus on workforce development and regulatory advancement.
“We have worked tirelessly in the past year to uphold the dignity of our profession, strengthen structures, expand our interventions, and give pharmacists everywhere a renewed sense of pride,” he said. “But this is only the beginning. We remain committed to doing even more—modernizing practice standards, deepening partnerships, and driving reforms that will elevate the pharmaceutical profession in Nigeria and beyond.”
On the conference theme, he added: “Pharmacy Forward is not just a slogan; it is a mandate. As the world evolves, we must evolve with it—embracing technology, improving patient-centered care, and building a workforce equipped for performance, collaboration, and transformation.”
Dignitaries in attendance included, His Excellency, Engr. Abba Kabir Yusuf, Executive Governor of Kano State represented by Senator (Dr.) George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation; Alhaji Abdullahi Musa, Head of Service, Kano State Government; Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola, the Keynote Speaker; Sen. Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, Leader of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; and Pharm. Murtala Umar, National Chairman, PSN Kano, among others.
The ceremony also featured presentations and recognitions. Speakers who delivered insights on various aspects of pharmaceutical development were honoured with awards in acknowledgement of their contributions to pharmacy education, policy, innovation, and professional excellence.
The conference scheduled to run from November 3 to 8, 2025 will include plenary sessions, technical workshops, exhibitions, panel discussions, networking forums, and social engagements, all aimed at charting the future of pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
As the week-long activities continue, industry stakeholders anticipate robust outcomes that will advance universal health coverage, innovation, and a highly skilled pharmacy workforce capable of meeting emerging healthcare challenges.
