The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has announced that its 44th Annual International Conference will be held from July 22 to 27, 2025, in Awka, Anambra State. The event, themed “Technology Integration, Personalised Care: The Future of Community Pharmacy Practice,” will bring together over 3,000 delegates from across Nigeria and beyond, including healthcare professionals, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers.
Speaking in an official statement issued on Thursday, the National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, described the conference as a pivotal moment in repositioning community pharmacy as a key driver in Nigeria’s healthcare system. He noted that the integration of digital tools—such as artificial intelligence, telepharmacy, electronic health records, and point-of-care testing—is critical for improving pharmaceutical care and aligning with global best practices.
Pharm. Igwekamma stressed that the growing demand for accessible, efficient, and personalized care makes it imperative for community pharmacists to adopt new technologies and patient-centered models. He stated that the conference will offer a platform for knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, and the forging of strategic partnerships to advance pharmacy practice nationwide.
In addition to unveiling plans for the international gathering, the ACPN raised concerns over the alarming resurgence of fake and substandard drugs in the country. Referencing historical studies by the Federal Ministry of Health in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988 and subsequent reviews in 1998, Igwekamma said the scale of counterfeit drug circulation has once again reached dangerous levels. He disclosed that recent data from the Association’s research-based assessments suggest that over 50 percent of drugs in the Nigerian market may currently be fake or substandard—posing grave risks to public health.
He recalled that past regulatory efforts, especially during the tenure of the late NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Dora Akunyili, yielded significant improvements in curbing the distribution of fake drugs. However, the ACPN Chairman expressed concern that the decline in the activities of federal and state task forces in recent years has enabled a resurgence of illicit pharmaceutical and food products. He called on the National Assembly to urgently amend and strengthen the Fake Drug and Unwholesome Processed Food Act to reflect present-day realities and empower regulatory agencies with greater enforcement capabilities.
Pharm. Igwekamma also commended the recent collaboration between the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), which led to the closure of the Sabon-Geri open drug market in Kano and the launch of Nigeria’s first Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC). These CWCs, designed under the National Drug Distribution Guidelines of 2015, aim to eliminate unregulated drug markets and ensure safer pharmaceutical distribution channels.
The 2025 ACPN Conference will feature keynote presentations, technical sessions, policy workshops, and exhibitions showcasing innovations in health technology and pharmaceutical practice. It will also include a walk against fake medicines, a cultural night, awards ceremony, and leadership roundtables. The Association acknowledged the support of the Anambra State Government and expressed optimism that the conference will inspire coordinated action toward building a more robust and people-centered pharmacy sector.
The ACPN called on all healthcare professionals, public institutions, development partners, and civil society stakeholders to participate actively in the conference and in broader efforts to safeguard the nation’s drug supply chain. Pharm. Igwekamma reaffirmed the Association’s commitment to supporting government efforts in protecting public health and promoting pharmaceutical excellence across the federation.
The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria operates as a technical arm of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria and plays a central role in the regulation and development of pharmacy practice in communities nationwide.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo