Nigeria’s healthcare system could face serious long-term consequences if urgent reforms are not implemented in pharmacy education, the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has warned.
The warning was issued during the 2026 Pharmacy Colloquium held in Yola, Adamawa State, where stakeholders raised concerns that current training structures and funding levels are no longer adequate to meet the demands of modern healthcare delivery.
According to the PSN, pharmacy education must now be viewed as a national security priority rather than a purely academic discipline, especially given Nigeria’s continued dependence on imported medicines.
PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, emphasized the need for a full transition to the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) programme, noting that it is essential for building a workforce capable of supporting local drug manufacturing and reducing reliance on foreign pharmaceutical products.
A key highlight of the colloquium was the announcement by the Adamawa State Government on the establishment of a College of Pharmacy at Adamawa State University. The initiative is expected to expand national training capacity and serve as a model for other states seeking to strengthen healthcare education and infrastructure.
Beyond infrastructure development, experts at the event raised concerns over a growing gap between theoretical training and practical clinical demands. They called for a shift toward competency-based education that prioritizes critical thinking, digital literacy, and the integration of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence into pharmacy practice.
Participants also urged increased government investment in research and the commercialisation of Nigeria’s biodiversity, particularly in phytomedicine, as a strategy to boost both healthcare outcomes and economic development.
The PSN further recommended strengthening postgraduate training through the National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy, expanding industrial training and internship opportunities, and safeguarding the consultant pharmacist cadre to address rising concerns over brain drain in the sector.
These proposals align with provisions of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria Act 2022, which seeks to enhance regulatory oversight, improve professional standards, and ensure more efficient use of resources within the sector.
The colloquium, which brought together leading figures in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry and international experts, concluded with a strong consensus: without sustained investment in pharmacy education and reform, Nigeria risks falling further behind global efforts toward healthcare self-reliance.
