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By Bolaji Okunola
Erstwhile President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ahmed Yakasai has been billed to chair the inaugural conference of the forthcoming Pharma West Africa, Nigeria’s new international trade event for medicine.
The conference slated for October 4th to 6th, will hold in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Confirming readiness for the theme ‘New Frontiers in Pharma: Equitable Healthcare and Business Success’, Yakasai said he’s in good shape to further tutor exhibitors on how to improve the public’s access to better quality medicines. Yakasai who is involved in pharmacist education programmes at the Capital City University, Kano, also vowed to narrate challenges facing the local pharmaceutical industry in the country.
“I’m ready for the conference. Nigeria has the potential to become a leading manufacturer and distributor of essential medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa. About 60 per cent of pharmaceutical production in ECOWAS countries is dominated by Nigeria with less than 50 per cent current capacity utilisation.’
“We rely on other countries for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), machinery and other resources needed for domestic production of drugs. Nigeria can balance her dependence on imports to meet its medicines needs by improving manufacturing capacity and increasing research capacity through adequate funding,’ he stated.
Reacting to this, organiser, BtoB event, also disclosed all hands are on deck to record a successful trade event.
“Mr Yakasai brings a wealth of experience and has an extensive knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria. The conference content will put into context the need for putting patients’ access to medicines first by driving universal health coverage as well as considering how the industry can meet this challenge,” says, Managing Director of BtoB event, Jamie Hill.
