Nigeria’s pharmacy sector is going through a major transformation. At the centre of this change is the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), which has unveiled an ambitious agenda towards reforming pharmacy education, strengthening regulation and uplifting professional welfare.
The plan—announced at the PSN 98th Annual National Conference in Kano—aims to lay the foundation for a new generation of pharmacists equipped to respond to the global and local health challenges.
A key part of the vision is to make the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree the minimum qualification for professional practice throughout the country. This reform would align Nigeria’s pharmacy education with international standards while addressing the local realities of drug production, community health and pharmaceutical care.
In redefining the academic and professional alignment, the PSN thus hopes to produce pharmacists who will not be mere dispensers but innovators, researchers and clinicians able to drive an increasingly integrated healthcare system.
Historically, pharmacy education and practice in Nigeria have been fragmented, with weak regulatory oversight. A major breakthrough came when, following the recommendations of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and the National Board for Technical Education, the Federal Ministry of Education ordered the cessation of Pharmacy Technologist training in polytechnics.
This action ended years of confusion created by an unlicensed and globally unrecognised cadre.
The Memorandum of Understanding between the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) and National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) in April 2024 restructured the system to recognise pharmacy technicians as the only acceptable technical cadre, thus restoring order and aligning with global standards.
Strengthening Nigeria’s pharmacy sector
Another milestone was the 2025 ruling by the Federal High Court in Calabar, which reaffirmed the PCN’s authority to oversee the sale, dispensation and custody of veterinary drugs throughout the nation. The ruling effectively denied the Veterinary Council of Nigeria any assumed powers.
This judgement bears broad implications for public health safety, ensuring that all pharmaceutical products—whether for humans or animals—are placed under one professional body with a clear mandate for quality control and ethical practice.
Welfare and career growth
Welfare reforms to encourage and retain pharmacists in public service have also been one of the priorities of the PSN.
In collaboration with Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and Assembly of Healthcare Professional Associations (AHPA), the Society secured important victories, including recognition of pharmacists as hospital-based consultants, payment of long-pending 25–35% salary arrears and enhanced call-duty allowances for holders of Pharm.D.
Other major milestones included increasing the retirement age for pharmacists to 65 years and for consultant pharmacists to 70 years, a move that would ensure career longevity and parity with their medical colleagues.
The PSN is championing a National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy, a Nigerian-oriented institution that will complement the existing West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists. The College would harmonise advanced training programmes, strengthen postgraduate research and produce specialists capable of giving leadership to academia, clinical practice and health policy.
This initiative is expected to fill critical gaps in pharmaceutical research and capacity building, driving the country toward evidence-based health solutions. The broad reforms in education, regulation and welfare reflect a profession in transition.
Offering modernised training standards, reinforcing oversight mechanisms and investing in professional development, Nigeria lays the groundwork for a pharmacy system able to meet complex demands in health.
The journey may be long, but the path is clear: a future in which pharmacists are empowered to contribute beyond the counter, shaping policy, advancing research, and safeguarding the nation’s health.
Summary not available at this time.
