Pharmacists As Strategic Partners To Build Healthier Societies Not Just Dispensers of Medicine
- Says Pate
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world in commemorating the 2025 World Pharmacists Day, the Coordinating Minister of Health & á¹¢ocial Welfare Professor Muhammad Ali Pate CON, has affirmed the vital role of Pharmacists as strategic partners in building a healthier and resilient society.
Prof. Pate disclosed this through the Director Overseeing Office of the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ladidi Bako-Ayegbusi mni; also the Director/HeaÉ—, Health Nutrition Department; at a Ministerial Press Briefing marking Nigeria’s Maiden edition of the 2025 World Pharmacists Day, themed “Think Health, Think Pharmacists”.
The World Pharmacists Day holds annually, 25th September.
Highlighting the significance of the day and the role of pharmacy profession, the Coordinating Minister said Pharmacists are not just mere dispensers of medicine but strategic partners in building healthier, more resilient societies.
He added “Across Nigeria, Pharmacists have emerged as frontline health professionals, accessible, trusted, and indispensable. From government cities to remote villages, they serve as the first point of contact for millions seeking healthcare guidance, medication, and preventive services.
Pharmacists are not only providing individual health platforms, they are strengthening the very foundation of our national health system”.
Narrating the support of pharmaceutical profession in the area of policy, Professor Pate, announced that government has been able to strengthen the pharmaceutical landscape through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare by introducing the National Drug Policy, the e-pharmacy policy, and the National Essential Medicine List marking the eighth edition that was recently launched.
These transformative policies, he further stated, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda emphasizing- strengthening healthcare infrastructure, promoting local content and pharmaceutical manufacturing as well as investing in human capital development.
“The current administration is promoting local content with support from the pharmaceutical profession. And without the pharmacy profession, without the trusted and committed pharmacists, we will not be able to achieve that. Investing in human capital and professional development. This is something that the government prioritized. We retrain. And we ensure that the training is in line with global context”, the Coordinating Minister affirmed.
Highlighting the achievements of Nigeria’s Pharmacy, he pointed out that the profession in Nigeria has achieved remarkable milestones to showcase globally- including the establishment of the Pharmacovigilance Centre Nationwide through NAFDAC, increased growth in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, expanding clinical pharmacy practice in hospitals and primary healthcare centres. All these, he noted, reflects the resilience, innovation and professionalism of Nigeria’s Pharmacists.
Riding on this assessment, Professor Pate solicited the support of the private sector, individuals, development and implementation partners both local and international to fully leverage the potential of pharmacies.
He emphasized collective effort to enhance and sustain investment in pharmacy education and workforce development and, strengthening regulatory enforcement to eliminate counterfeiting and substandard medicine as well as promote research and innovation in pharmaceutical sciences.
“Nigeria is a big country and we are going to be the hub of medicine in Africa. So we depend on you, on the pharmacies profession, to achieve that. Together, we are shaping the future where every Nigerian has access to safe, effective and affordable medicine” the Coordinating Minister stated.
Speaking earlier, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom mni, represented by Mrs. Olufowobi Yusuf Adeola Director Food, Chemical, Cosmetics and Water Safety Division ( Food & Drugs Services Department FMoHSW) described Pharmacists as the backbone of medication in the Health system- affirming the theme of this year’s Commemoration ” Think Health, Think Pharmacists”.
Activities organized by the Ministry commemorating the World Pharmacy Day include medical outreach where Pharmacists attended to civil servants and the general public, offering medical advices as well as drugs where necessary, Mrs. Adeola further stated.
Other flashpoint of the Briefing were goodwill messages received from the NAFDAC, Pharmaceutical Council of Nigeria (PCN), Codix pharmaceutical company and MEBS.
Alaba Balogun
Deputy Director/Head, Information
& Public Relations
26 September 2025
