Follow Us on Google
By Doris Obinna
The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy (NAPharm) has honoured its pioneer vice president and founder of Pharmanews, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi, who died in July 2025 at the age of 85, at a valedictory session in Lagos.
The event, which drew pharmacists, industry leaders and family members, described Atueyi, who is survived by his wife, Lady Joan Atueyi, children and grandchildren as a man of integrity, vision and excellence whose work shaped pharmaceutical journalism in Nigeria.
Speaking, President, NAPharm, Prof. Lere Baale, describing Atueyi as a visionary whose values and dedication left a lasting mark on the profession, stressed the need for deliberate government policies to strengthen pharmacists’ roles in health delivery, including remuneration, career growth and integration into the primary healthcare system.
“With over 6,000 functional primary healthcare centres and another 6,000 community pharmacies, Nigeria can double access to healthcare if community pharmacies are empowered to provide services such as vaccination,” Baale said.
He added that the Academy continues to build on a foundation of integrity, humility and teamwork laid by its founders, with recent efforts focusing on scientific seminars and improved public communication.
Baale noted that in many developed countries, pharmacists are the first point of contact in healthcare delivery, especially in underserved areas, and Nigeria must adopt such models to reduce pressure on hospitals and increase nationwide access to care. He argued that community pharmacies, if properly integrated, could play a pivotal role in disease prevention, patient counselling and emergency response.
Other News
Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), in a statement by its Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed, described Atueyi as “more than just a pharmacist; he was a visionary, a trailblazer, and a relentless advocate for the advancement of our profession and healthcare.”
Former health minister and immediate past NAPharm President, Prince Julius Adelusi-Adeluyi, said: “Atueyi aspired to inspire others before he expired, and he succeeded. He was a man who always carried a heart of gratitude.
“What you have done now, maybe with the presence of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and all our leadership people, will help ensure that this profession recognises, rewards, and celebrates members who have served for a long time both within and outside the profession.
“Success for him did not come by chance. He worked hard. Forget all the praises people are saying. He was simply a sincere man. Sincerity paid him. He was humble.”
On behalf of the family, Atueyi’s first son, Dozie Ifeanyi Atueyi, thanked the academy for honouring his father, describing him as a pioneer in pharmaceutical journalism who established Pharmanews nearly five decades ago to bridge the gap between science and practice:
“He believed he was born to make a difference in healthcare, particularly through communication and education, and he lived out that calling to the very end.”
