Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy Advocates Research Driven Policies to Boost Pharmaceutical Innovation

The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPHARM) has called for deeper collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance pharmaceutical innovation and strengthen national development.

Speaking at the 2025 Investiture and Public Lecture held in Lagos, the President and Chairman of the Governing Council, Prof. Lere Baale, emphasised that Nigeria must prioritise self reliance in pharmaceutical research and manufacturing to safeguard its health security and economic resilience.

“We need to reduce dependence and become more self-sufficient,” Baale stated. “Pharmaceutical innovation goes beyond science, it is governance, business, and ultimately, nation building. We must be bold enough to take responsibility for our country’s progress.”

Themed “Pharmaceutical Innovation and Nation Building,” the event convened pharmacists, academics, regulators, and policymakers to discuss strategies for transforming Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape.

Baale, who also serves as President of the Nigerian School of Pharmacy and CU Business School, Netherlands, shared insights on his professional journey, noting that Nigeria must learn from global models of pharmaceutical excellence.

“When I started out, I found myself marketing products in places like Ajegunlé. That experience taught me valuable lessons. Today, countries like India have become the pharmacy of the world, and Rwanda is rapidly building its own capacity. Nigeria must evolve too,” he said.

The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted ongoing regulatory reforms that are improving the quality and competitiveness of locally produced medicines.

“Under our leadership, Nigeria now has two WHO prequalified medicine manufacturers and its first WHO-prequalified medical device company,” she said. “We have also deepened collaboration between academia and the private sector, ensuring that research and development drive national progress.”

Adeyeye noted that NAFDAC has strengthened partnerships with institutions such as the University of Lagos and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, to foster pharmaceutical research, capacity building, and innovation.

Delivering the keynote address, the Group Managing Director of FBN Holdings, Mr. Wale Oyedeji, underscored that innovation and collaboration remain central to repositioning Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.

“Pharmaceutical innovation is not just science; it’s also about governance, entrepreneurship, and nation building,” Oyedeji said. “We must invest more than the current 0.2 per cent of GDP in R&D, focusing on local solutions. India transformed its system by looking inward Nigeria can do even better.”

He cautioned that continued dependence on imported medicines, low research investment, and brain drain remain critical barriers to sectoral growth and sustainability.

The event also featured a valedictory session in honour of the late Pharm. Oludolapo Ibukun Akinkugbe, celebrated as a pioneer of modern pharmacy education and a trailblazer in the advancement of pharmaceutical practice in Nigeria.