PSN Demands Strategic Overhaul of Pharmacy Education to Secure Nigeria’s Health Future

By Love Oyedokun

The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has  called on both federal and state governments, urging a paradigm shift in how the nation funds and structures pharmaceutical education. Speaking at the 2026 Pharmacy Colloquium in Yola, Adamawa State, industry leaders argued that the current education model is insufficient to meet the complex demands of modern healthcare. They posited that until Nigeria treats pharmaceutical training as a pillar of national security rather than a mere academic pursuit, true healthcare self-sufficiency will remain an elusive target.

Cablenews24 reports that in a significant victory for the profession, the Adamawa State Government, represented by Deputy Governor Professor Kaletapwa Farauta on behalf of Governor Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, announced the official establishment of a College of Pharmacy at Adamawa State University, Mubi. This policy milestone serves as a template for other states, demonstrating a tangible commitment to expanding the local talent pool and infrastructure necessary for domestic medicine production.

PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, FPSN, emphasized that the transition to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme is non-negotiable for producing a workforce capable of reducing Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported pharmaceuticals. The PSN’s advocacy agenda centers on three critical reform areas:

• Advanced Training: Strengthening the National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy to produce specialists.
• Practical Integration: Expanding the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) and internship pipelines to bridge the gap between classroom theory and clinical reality.
• Professional Retention: Protecting the Consultant Pharmacist cadre to provide clear career progression and combat the “brain drain” of expert clinicians leaving the country.

Keynote speaker Pharm. (Prof.) Cyril Odianose Usifoh highlighted a troubling disconnect between existing academic curricula and the evolving needs of the patient. He advocated for a shift toward competency-based training that prioritizes:

1. Critical Thinking: Moving beyond rote memorization to evidence-based problem solving.
2. Digital Literacy: Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital health analytics into the pharmacy curriculum.
3. Indigenous Development: Scaling up the research and commercialization of Nigeria’s rich biodiversity in phytomedicine, transforming local medicinal plants into a major economic and therapeutic engine.

The implementation of these goals is anchored by the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) Act 2022 . Former PSN President Pharm. Ahmed I. Yakasai, mni, noted that the Act provides the necessary regulatory oversight to ensure public resources are used effectively to enhance pharmaceutical standards.

The colloquium was characterized by an unprecedented display of unity, drawing together a “Who’s Who” of the Nigerian pharmaceutical landscape, including the PSN College of Past Presidents, the Board of Trustees, and international experts like Dr. Teresa Pounds of WASPEN.

Summary Table: Key Strategic Pillars

The colloquium concluded with a sobering warning: the status quo is insufficient to protect Nigeria’s health security. As the nation grapples with global economic pressures, the PSN maintains that the future of pharmacy is not just about the accumulation of knowledge, but about a collective, high-level commitment to innovation, systemic reform, and bold leadership. Without deliberate, sustained investment, the country risks falling further behind in the global race for pharmaceutical self-reliance.

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