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By Doris Obinna
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has called for a holistic redefinition of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical workforce to meet global standards. The call was made during the opening ceremony of the 98th Annual National Conference of the PSN, tagged DABO 2025, held in Kano.
Speaking, the President, PSN, Ayuba Tanko, reaffirmed the Society’s stance against the training of “Pharmacy Technologists,” emphasising that only Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are recognised in global best practices. He commended the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) and the Ministry of Education for reaffirming this through an August 28, 2025, circular that officially forbids the training of Pharmacy Technologists in Nigeria.
On the regulation of veterinary drugs, Tanko disclosed that the PSN and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) recently secured a landmark victory at the Federal High Court in Calabar, which reaffirmed PCN’s authority to regulate the sales, dispensing, and custody of veterinary drugs in the country.
He also noted significant progress in welfare negotiations for public sector pharmacists under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU), including arrears payments, improved allowances, and the approval of a 70-year retirement age for Consultant Pharmacists, aligning with their medical counterparts.
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Looking ahead, the PSN President stressed the need to make the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) the minimum entry qualification for practice in Nigeria and called for stronger integration between postgraduate Ph.D. programmes and Fellowship training to produce a versatile, expert-driven workforce. He also reiterated the Society’s commitment to establishing a National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy to complement the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists.
He further urged universities and regulatory bodies to ensure strict adherence to the new professional education framework, emphasising that the transition to the Pharm.D model would better equip future pharmacists with clinical, research, and leadership skills required in a rapidly evolving health sector. He called on the government to provide adequate funding and infrastructure support to faculties of pharmacy to facilitate this transition.
He highlighted the Society’s progress over the 2024/2025 seasons and outlined plans to strengthen the nation’s pharmacy workforce and charged all participants to embrace the spirit of learning, networking, and collaboration during the five-day conference.
Beyond scientific sessions, he encouraged attendees to take part in social events, sporting activities, and excursions, which he described as opportunities to strengthen professional unity and celebrate the growing impact of pharmacists in national development.
