The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) is officially gearing up for its historic 100th-anniversary celebration scheduled for March 2027. As the oldest recognized professional body in Nigeria, the Society is leveraging this milestone to advocate for a comprehensive transformation of the nation’s healthcare landscape.
Under the leadership of the Centenary Planning Committee, chaired by past President Pharm Olumide Akintayo FPSN, the PSN has pledged to deliver a world-class centenary celebration that chronicles the evolution of pharmacy practice—from colonial-era dispensaries to a modern, globally competitive profession. The chairman, working closely with his committee, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the celebration is truly historic and impactful for generations to come.
Complementing this effort is the Centenary Family Committee, whose preparations are already in advanced stages. The committee is actively engaging eminent personalities, captains of industry, and global health leaders to foster collaboration and ensure a high-impact event. A major feature of the centenary roadmap is the Centenary Endowment Fund, which is set to be unveiled soon. The Centenary President Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim FPSN, has issued a strong call to well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders to support the fund, describing it as a critical vehicle for repositioning Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry toward self-sufficiency and advanced research.
Beyond celebration, the centenary is serving as a catalyst for a “Strategic Reset” aimed at addressing the growing challenges within the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA). Amid increasing complaints from enrollees about persistent drug stock-outs and being treated as “second-class citizens” under the scheme, the PSN is advocating reforms that integrate pharmacists more effectively into the NHIA framework. These reforms seek to eliminate out-of-pocket drug purchases by ensuring well-stocked pharmacies, efficient supply chains, and seamless HMO authorization processes.
The drive toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030 remains central to this effort. Key to this vision is Nigeria’s commitment to achieving at least 70% local drug production by 2030. Through integrated care models that bridge pharmacies and hospitals, the PSN aims to end healthcare fragmentation while protecting vulnerable populations from unregulated open drug markets.
The Society’s strengthened inter-agency collaborations with National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) form the regulatory backbone of this transformation. These partnerships have recently produced landmark achievements, earning renewed confidence from both the medical community and the general public.
To secure a future-ready legacy, the PSN has adopted the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) degree as the minimum entry qualification into the profession and is championing the establishment of the National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy. Alongside the extension of the retirement age to 65 years, these reforms are designed to curb brain drain and retain the expertise needed to manage the entire pharmaceutical value chain.
As the PSN marches toward its 2027 centenary milestone, it remains anchored on the principle of Mens Sana in Corpore Sano, with a bold vision of positioning Nigeria as the “Pharmacy of Africa”—a nation where healthcare delivery is integrated, medicines are locally manufactured, and quality healthcare is accessible to all 220 million citizens.
