The National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), Pharm. (Sir) Bankole Aminu Ezebuilo, has outlined the strategic importance of the forthcoming NAIP 2026 Economic Outlook and CEOs Forum, describing it as a critical platform for reshaping Nigeria’s health security architecture, strengthening local pharmaceutical production, and advancing economic sovereignty.
The high-level policy and industry engagement, themed “Reimagining Nigeria’s Health Security: Local Production, Economic Sovereignty & Strategic Partnership,” is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA, Ezebuilo explained that the forum is specifically designed for chief executive officers and top decision-makers in the pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, noting that NAIP has consistently hosted the annual engagement to create a strategic space for industry leaders to interact, reflect, and chart sustainable pathways for growth.
“The NAIP Economic Outlook and CEOs Forum is primarily for CEOs in the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry. It is a deliberate platform where we review Nigeria’s past economic performance, examine current realities, provide informed forecasts, and collectively discuss strategies for the growth, resilience, and self-reliance of the pharmaceutical sector,” he said.
According to him, the significance of the forum lies in its ability to bring together industry leaders, policymakers, regulators, academics, investors, economists, innovators, and cultural leaders, including traditional rulers and monarchs, to engage in evidence-based dialogue aimed at addressing systemic challenges within Nigeria’s health and industrial ecosystem.
Ezebuilo noted that the forum goes beyond discussions, serving as a convergence point for ideas that can translate into actionable policies and partnerships capable of strengthening Nigeria’s pharmaceutical value chain.
“Our objective is to foster meaningful conversations that will help the industry leverage technology, strengthen strategic partnerships, and contribute to national economic health. A self-reliant health value chain begins with strong local pharmaceutical manufacturing, and that is central to Nigeria’s health security,” he stated.
He further emphasized that quality drug production remains a critical outcome of the engagement, stressing that a robust pharmaceutical manufacturing sector directly guarantees improved healthcare delivery and public trust in the health system.
“When we get pharmaceutical manufacturing right, we automatically assure Nigerians of quality medicines and, by extension, quality healthcare. This forum is about creating the right environment, policy-wise, economically, and strategically for that to happen,” Ezebuilo added.
The NAIP chairman described the Economic Outlook component of the forum as a cornerstone of the association’s commitment to deepening stakeholders’ understanding of economic trends, emerging opportunities, and industry-specific risks, both within the pharmaceutical sector and the Nigerian economy at large.
“The economic outlook is central to our mission. It helps industry leaders understand the broader economic landscape, anticipate changes, and make informed decisions that will sustain their businesses while contributing meaningfully to national development,” he said.
He noted that the 2026 edition of the forum is particularly timely, given Nigeria’s ongoing push for local production, reduced import dependence, and strategic health partnerships, adding that collaborative solutions will be critical to achieving long-term resilience.
The forum is expected to attract top pharmaceutical CEOs, senior government officials, regulators, policymakers, academics, investors, leading economists, innovators, and cultural leaders, all united by a shared goal of building a self-reliant, resilient, and globally competitive pharmaceutical industry capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s health security.
