The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing healthcare through digital integration and personalised care, during its 44th Annual National Scientific Conference, held on 23 July 2025 in Awka, Anambra State.
Themed “Technology Integration and Personalised Care: The Future of Community Pharmacy Practice”, the conference, tagged IFEADIGO 2025, brought together a diverse array of healthcare stakeholders, including government officials, traditional rulers, pharmacists, academics, and industry leaders.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Chukwuemeka Michael Ubaka, Imo State Commissioner for Health, emphasised the evolving role of pharmacists in the digital era.
“The most impactful healthcare provider in the digital age is not a surgeon or physician, but the local pharmacist,” he said.
He advocated the adoption of digital technologies and patient-centred services in community pharmacy to enhance healthcare access and chronic disease management, aligning with the World Health Organization’s vision for universal health coverage.
Speaking on behalf of the conference chairman, Pharm. (Dr.) Ignatius Anukwu commended ACPN members for their frontline efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He encouraged community pharmacists to embrace digital transformation to stay relevant in Nigeria’s dynamic healthcare landscape.
ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, highlighted the importance of implementing the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG).
He also praised the Anambra State Government, under Governor Charles Soludo, for establishing Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWCs) to regulate and streamline drug distribution.
He called on regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to minimise overlapping responsibilities and collaborate effectively to advance national healthcare goals.
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In his welcome address, Governor Soludo described pharmacists as the “heart of the healthcare system”, lauding their role in ensuring the safe and effective use of medicines.
He emphasised the need for professionalism and ethics, stating:
“Technology is everything,” he said, urging pharmacists to adopt innovations such as Artificial Intelligence to improve healthcare delivery.
Also speaking at the event, Pharm. Tanko Ayuba Ibrahim, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), praised Anambra State’s pharmacy-friendly policies and expressed satisfaction with the state’s preparedness to host the 2026 PSN National Conference.
“The community pharmacist is the face of the profession,” he said, encouraging members to uphold the profession’s image with excellence and dedication.
Pharm. Ahmed Ibrahim Babasheu, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, expressed strong support for the development of the Oba CWC, and emphasised the importance of inter-professional collaboration to ensure safer drug distribution systems across the country.
The conference also featured goodwill messages and attendance by several dignitaries from across the health sector.
With a strong emphasis on collaboration, innovation, and ethical practice, the 2025 ACPN conference served as a platform to position community pharmacists as digital healthcare leaders, committed to delivering personalised patient care in a rapidly evolving healthcare environment.