By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Pharm. (Sir) Bankole Ezebuilo |
ILORIN, NIGERIA – The National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), Pharm. (Sir) Bankole Ezebuilo, has issued a Clarion call to the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on local pharmaceutical manufacturing.
Speaking at the 29th Annual National Conference and Training of NAIP in Ilorin, Kwara State, Ezebuilo warned that Nigeria’s current reliance on imported medicines is a direct threat to national security.
The conference, themed "Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry," brought together a high-powered assembly of regulators, manufacturers, and policymakers to chart a course for pharmaceutical sovereignty.
Addressing the stakeholders, Ezebuilo highlighted a staggering statistic: Nigeria currently imports over 70 percent of its medicines and nearly all of its Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). This dependency, he argued, leaves the nation vulnerable to global supply chain shocks and currency volatility.
"No nation can outsource its health security," Ezebuilo declared. "A nation that cannot produce its own medicines is a nation negotiating with its health, and negotiation is not where you want to be when lives are at stake."
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He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to implement aggressive policies that would transition Nigeria from a consumer nation to the definitive pharmaceutical manufacturing hub for the African continent.
Ezebuilo emphasized that the journey toward self-sufficiency requires more than just infrastructure; it requires a radical shift in technical competence and institutional collaboration. He challenged the sector to move beyond theoretical discussions toward measurable industrial outcomes.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it," he said, quoting a famous leadership principle. "To build local solutions, we must stop importing not just medicines, but also ideas."
The NAIP Chairman assured the government that industrial pharmacists are trained and ready to lead this "pharmaceutical industrial revolution," provided the enabling environment including access to forex and stable power is secured.
In a significant demonstration of the association's commitment to grassroots welfare, the conference featured a massive humanitarian outreach. Ezebuilo commissioned the renovation of healthcare centres worth millions of naira at the Palace of the Emir of Ilorin.
Supported by the Kwara State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina L. Imam, the NAIP "Speaking Humanity with Passion" initiative provided:.Free Medical Consultations: For over 1,000 residents of Ilorin and surrounding rural communities. Specialized Interventions: Expert care and free drug distribution for indigent patients. Grassroots Strengthening: Direct investment in local primary healthcare facilities.
The event featured a keynote address by US-based pharmaceutical executive Dr. Henrietta N. Ukwu and was attended by a "who’s who" of the profession, including past PSN presidents Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Pharm. Olumide Akintayo, as well as the Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed.
Representing the Kwara State Government were several cabinet members, including the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Hauwa Nuru, signaling strong state-level support for industrial pharmaceutical growth.