The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Oyo State Chapter, is poised to host one of the most anticipated pharmaceutical gatherings of the year as it prepares for its 2026 Annual State Summit, scheduled to hold from June 15 to June 18, 2026, at the prestigious Mauve 21 Event Centre, Ring Road, Ibadan, Oyo State.
With the theme,"Beyond the Counter: Balancing Professional Ethics, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth in a Changing Healthcare Economy," the four-day summit promises to be a transformative platform for redefining the future of community pharmacy practice in Nigeria amid increasing economic pressures, healthcare reforms, technological advancements, and evolving patient expectations.
Bringing together leading pharmacy professionals, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, business leaders, researchers, and academics, the summit is expected to generate critical conversations around the changing role of pharmacists and the urgent need to reposition community pharmacies as frontline healthcare centers rather than mere medicine dispensing outlets.
According to the organizing committee, the summit represents a defining moment for community pharmacy practice, offering stakeholders a unique opportunity to explore innovative solutions to contemporary healthcare challenges while strengthening professional standards and sustainable business models.
"The future of pharmacy lies beyond traditional dispensing," the committee noted, emphasizing that modern pharmacists must embrace expanded clinical responsibilities, patient-centered care, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial resilience to remain relevant in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.
The summit will commence on Day One with a Community Health Outreach programme designed to take healthcare services directly to the people, reflecting ACPN's commitment to improving community health outcomes and expanding access to essential healthcare interventions.
Day Two will feature the official Opening Ceremony alongside the commencement of specialized masterclasses, while Day Three will focus extensively on Clinical and Business Masterclasses aimed at equipping participants with practical tools, contemporary knowledge, and actionable strategies for professional and business success.
The event will culminate on Day Four with a glamorous Gala Dinner and Award Night, celebrating excellence, innovation, leadership, and outstanding contributions within the pharmaceutical profession.
A major highlight of the summit will be the lineup of distinguished speakers and thought leaders who will provide expert insights into the future of pharmacy practice.
Delivering the keynote address, Pharm. Olayinka Subair is expected to challenge community pharmacists to rethink traditional business models and embrace innovation-driven healthcare solutions capable of sustaining pharmacy practice in today's economic realities.
According to him, technology remains a critical enabler of modern healthcare delivery.
"Technology can support and empower healthcare workers, providing them with the tools and resources they need to deliver more efficient and effective care,"* he noted.
Organizers explained that the summit's central message of moving "Beyond the Counter" is rooted in the realities confronting the healthcare sector today. Rising drug prices, economic instability, supply chain disruptions, increasing healthcare costs, and changing patient demographics have created an urgent need for pharmacists to evolve from product-focused practitioners into proactive providers of clinical and preventive healthcare services.
This transition, they noted, is essential not only for improving patient outcomes but also for ensuring the long-term sustainability of community pharmacy businesses.
Another major session will be led by Dr. Akin-Ajani, who will facilitate a specialized Masterclass on Extemporaneous Preparation. The session is expected to highlight the growing importance of pharmaceutical compounding and localized medicine production as critical components of patient-centered care and healthcare self-sufficiency.
In another forward-looking presentation, Prof. Rasak Adisa will explore emerging opportunities in vaccination services within community pharmacy practice. His session, titled "Careers in Vaccination in Community Pharmacy," will focus on expanding pharmacists' roles as frontline public health practitioners and immunization providers.
Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Prof. Adisa is expected to emphasize the invaluable contributions community pharmacists made during public health emergencies and the opportunities that exist for expanding their clinical responsibilities.
To address the business realities facing pharmacy owners, Mr. Gbenga Adesina will lead the Business Clinic segment with a presentation titled"From Survival to Sustainability." His session will provide strategic guidance on financial management, business growth, operational efficiency, and sustainable pharmacy entrepreneurship in a challenging economic climate.
The summit's emphasis on the three interconnected pillars of Ethics, Innovation, and Sustainable Growth underscores ACPN Oyo State's commitment to building a future-ready pharmacy workforce capable of delivering quality healthcare while maintaining professional integrity and economic viability.
Endorsing the summit from the national level, the National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, reaffirmed the association's commitment to advancing pharmacy practice through innovation, accountability, and regulatory excellence.
"ACPN is committed to building a world-class regulatory environment that supports innovation while ensuring safety and accountability," he stated.
Speaking ahead of the summit, the Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) Oyo State Chapter Pharm. Adebayo Gbadamosi, emphasized that the future of pharmacy practice depends largely on the profession's willingness to embrace change and reposition itself to meet contemporary healthcare demands.
He acknowledged challenges such as unregistered pharmacies, capital limitations, economic uncertainties, and increasing competition but maintained that such challenges present opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and professional growth.
"Despite challenges like unregistered pharmacies and capital limitations, these conferences offer opportunities for innovation and collaboration to improve pharmacy practice," he said.
Pharm. Adebayo further stressed that pharmacists must deliberately move away from the traditional culture of merely dispensing medicines and instead embrace a patient-centered care model that prioritizes clinical services, medication management, disease prevention, health promotion, and improved therapeutic outcomes.
"To make an impact in this environment, we must choose the professional path to achieve whatever goal we have set for ourselves," he remarked.
He warned that the future of community pharmacy cannot be built solely on the sale of medicines, noting that sustainable growth will come from demonstrating measurable value through professional services that improve patient outcomes and strengthen public health.
According to him, community pharmacies must evolve into responsive, community-focused healthcare hubs that address local health needs, reduce healthcare disparities, and provide accessible, affordable, and high-quality care to the populations they serve.
As anticipation builds toward the summit, stakeholders across the healthcare sector are expected to converge in Ibadan to share knowledge, forge strategic partnerships, and chart a new course for community pharmacy practice in Nigeria.
More than just a professional gathering, the ACPN Oyo State Summit 2026 is shaping up to be a movement—one that seeks to redefine the role of pharmacists, strengthen healthcare delivery, and position community pharmacies as indispensable pillars of Nigeria's evolving healthcare system.
For registration and further inquiries, interested participants may contact Pharm. Arogundade Taoheed on 08053230424.
