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By Bianca Iboma -Emefu
Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry is on the brink of a historic transformation as three of the country’s most influential traditional rulers prepare to headline the 2026 NAIP Economic Outlook & CEOs Forum a high-level gathering aimed at reshaping the nation’s health security and economic sovereignty.
The National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) Pharm. (Sir) Bankole Aminu Ezebuilo, disclosed that His Royal Highness, Mallam Muhammadu Sanusi II, CON, PhD (London), Emir of Kano; His Royal Majesty, Igwe Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, CFR, mni, the Obi of Onitsha (Agbogidi); and His Royal Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the Ooni of Ife, will play prominent roles at the forum.
Ezebuilo described their participation as a defining moment for NAIP and the pharmaceutical sector, noting that it reflects the growing recognition of traditional institutions as critical stakeholders in national economic and health-security discourse.
> “All is set for a historic convergence of royal authority, intellectual depth, and strategic leadership at the NAIP 2026 Economic Outlook and CEOs Forum. The presence of these highly respected traditional rulers underscores the national importance of the conversations we are convening around Nigeria’s health security and economic future,” he said.
The forum, themed Reimagining Nigeria’s Health Security: Local Production, Economic Sovereignty & Strategic Partnership,” is scheduled to hold on Wednesday, February 4, 2026 at the Lagos Marriott Hotel, Ikeja GRA, beginning at 9:00 a.m. with a closing dinner at 6:00 p.m.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CEOAFRICA, the NAIP Chairman explained that the Economic Outlook & CEOs Forum is a deliberately structured platform for Chief Executive Officers and top decision-makers within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industrial sector to engage in strategic reflection and policy-driven dialogue.
> “The Economic Outlook and CEOs Forum is primarily for CEOs in the pharmaceutical industry. It is a deliberate platform where we review Nigeria’s past economic performance, examine current realities, provide informed forecasts, and collectively discuss strategies for growth, resilience, and self-reliance in the pharmaceutical sector,” Ezebuilo stated.
According to him, the inclusion of eminent traditional rulers reflects NAIP’s understanding that sustainable health security and economic sovereignty require leadership that transcends policy, industry, culture, tradition, and governance.
He noted that the participation of Emir Sanusi II brings global economic insight and reform-oriented leadership to discussions on local production and economic sovereignty, while Igwe Achebe contributes decades of corporate, institutional, and ethical governance experience to national development conversations. The presence of the Ooni of Ife, he added, reinforces the forum’s emphasis on innovation, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and strategic partnerships as drivers of sustainable economic growth.
Beyond dialogue, Ezebuilo stressed that the forum is designed to produce actionable outcomes capable of strengthening Nigeria’s pharmaceutical value chain and reducing import dependence.
> “Our objective is to foster meaningful conversations that translate into practical policies and partnerships. A self-reliant health value chain begins with a strong local pharmaceutical industry, which is central to Nigeria’s health security,” he said.
He emphasized that a robust pharmaceutical industry remains fundamental to effective healthcare delivery and public confidence in the health system.
> “When we get the pharmaceutical industry right, we automatically assure Nigerians of quality medicines and, by extension, quality healthcare. This forum is about creating the right economic, policy, and strategic environment for that to happen,” he added.
Describing the Economic Outlook segment as a cornerstone of NAIP’s leadership agenda, Ezebuilo said it equips industry leaders with deeper insight into economic trends, risks, and emerging opportunities.
> “The economic outlook helps CEOs anticipate change, make informed decisions, and position their businesses for sustainability while contributing meaningfully to national development,” he said.
The forum is expected to attract top pharmaceutical CEOs, senior government officials, regulators, policymakers, academics, investors, and development partners, all united by a shared goal of building a resilient, self-reliant, and globally competitive pharmaceutical industry capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s health security.
As the countdown to February 4 begins, NAIP’s message is unmistakable: the era of import dependency is being challenged by a bold vision of local production and economic sovereignty. By convening the nation’s highest traditional authorities alongside industry leaders, the association is positioning the 2026 Economic Outlook & CEOs Forum as a defining platform to reshape the future of Nigerian healthcare for decades to come.
