Nigeria makes history as global pharmacy body adopts ACPN career progression plan

By Bianca Iboma-Emefu

Nigeria’s community pharmacists have broken new ground on the world stage, as the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Community Pharmacy adopted a landmark proposal from the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) during the just-concluded 83rd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences in Copenhagen, Denmark.

At the centre of this global recognition is Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, National Chairman of ACPN, whose groundbreaking presentation titled “Standardization: Career Progression Ratings for Community Pharmacists in Nigeria” earned the endorsement of international stakeholders.

His proposal, which highlighted the urgent need for a structured career progression framework for community pharmacists, was hailed as a game-changer by Mr. Sheriff Guorgui, Chairman of the FIP Community Pharmacy, who declared it “the way to go for community pharmacists worldwide.”

Ezeh lamented the stagnation bedeviling community pharmacy practice in Nigeria, where the Superintendent Pharmacist position remains both the entry point and highest attainable rank. He warned that this lack of progression discourages young professionals, fuels complacency, and stifles innovation.

To break the cycle, ACPN has set up the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI), a pioneering body that will drive assessment, accreditation, and career advancement for practitioners. The initiative promises to reward competence, encourage continuous learning, and inspire job satisfaction while raising the standard of patient care.

According to Ezeh, CPACPI will provide webinars, workshops, mentorship, periodic assessments, and documentation of milestones, creating opportunities for networking, recognition, and international visibility. “This initiative is designed to evaluate, support, and elevate the practice of community pharmacy across Nigeria,” he declared.

The adoption of the proposal by FIP places Nigeria at the forefront of a global reform movement in pharmacy practice, signaling a historic victory for ACPN and a bold leap for African healthcare innovation.