The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has announced plans to host its 45th Annual International Scientific Conference in Abuja, where stakeholders will deliberate on strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
They will also improve access to quality medicines and advance the country’s quest for Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
The conference, themed “From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact: Managing Complex Political Systems,” is scheduled to hold from July 27 to August 1, 2026, under the banner “Unity 2026.”
According to the organisers, the event will bring together government officials, healthcare policymakers, pharmaceutical professionals, regulators, development partners and industry stakeholders to examine key issues affecting healthcare delivery, medicine supply, health financing, regulation and pharmaceutical practice.
Chairman of the Central Planning Committee, Pharm. Chidi Dozie, said; “all arrangements had been completed to receive participants from within and outside Nigeria for what is expected to be one of Africa’s largest gatherings of community pharmacists.”
He explained that “the conference would serve as a platform for generating practical policy recommendations capable of improving healthcare delivery nationwide.”
“Unity 2026 will provide an opportunity to transform professional ideas into practical policies that can expand healthcare access and strengthen Nigeria’s health security,” Dozie said.
He said that participants would also examine ways of improving pharmaceutical supply chains, enhancing operational efficiency, strengthening risk management and responding to emerging regulatory challenges.
“The participation of senior government officials underscores the growing recognition of community pharmacists as vital contributors to Nigeria’s healthcare system,” he added.
Activities for the conference will begin on July 27 with a health insurance awareness walk themed “Health Insurance for All: Leaving No One Behind,” to be led by the Director-General of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr. Kelechi Ohiri, alongside the ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma.
During the conference, Dr. Ohiri is expected to speak on collaboration between the NHIA and community pharmacists as a pathway to achieving Universal Health Coverage, while the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, will deliver a presentation on strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking ahead of the event, the ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, described the conference as a landmark gathering for the pharmacy profession.
Igwekamma said community pharmacists now occupy a strategic position in expanding healthcare access and should be fully integrated into the country’s primary healthcare system.
“Our objective extends beyond professional discussions. We want this conference to produce a practical roadmap that strengthens community pharmacy practice and positions pharmacists as key partners in healthcare policy and national development,” he said.
Igwekamma also highlighted the Association’s implementation of the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI), a professional development framework endorsed by the International Pharmaceutical Federation, to promote continuous career advancement among pharmacists.
Igwekamma reaffirmed ACPN’s advocacy for the formal recognition of community pharmacies as Primary Healthcare Centres, arguing that their accessibility places them at the frontline of healthcare delivery.
The Conference’s keynote Speaker and Managing Director of Evans Therapeutics Limited, Adewale Oyenuga said that “discussions would also focus on expanding local pharmaceutical manufacturing, building resilient medicine supply chains and strengthening regulatory compliance.”
“Boosting local drug production and aligning national standards with global best practices are essential to guaranteeing quality medicines and safeguarding public health,” Oyenuga stated.
Also speaking, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, described the conference as a significant opportunity for pharmacists to contribute more actively to healthcare governance.
“Pharmacists must combine professional expertise with active policy engagement if they are to influence healthcare reforms and contribute meaningfully to national and global health goals,” Ibrahim said.
Organisers expressed confidence that the conference would generate practical recommendations to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system, improve access to essential medicines, support local pharmaceutical manufacturing and accelerate progress towards Universal Health Coverage.
