Nigeria has recorded a landmark achievement in global pharmacy practice as a proposal from the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) was adopted by the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP) Community Pharmacy Section during the 83rd FIP World Congress of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences held in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The congress, which ran from August 31 to September 3, 2025, with the theme “Pharmacy Forward: Performance, Collaboration and Health Transformation,” brought together leading voices in pharmacy innovation and healthcare transformation.
Presenting on behalf of Nigeria, National Chairman of ACPN, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, delivered a paper titled “Standardization: Career Progression Ratings for Community Pharmacists in Nigeria.”
His presentation underscored the urgent need for a structured career progression path to motivate practitioners, improve service delivery, and strengthen community pharmacy practice.
Ezeh lamented that under the current structure in Nigeria, the position of Superintendent Pharmacist represents both the entry point and the highest rank in community pharmacy.
According to him, this situation creates no clear differentiation between beginners and experienced professionals, leading to stagnation, demotivation, and reduced interest among young graduates to embrace community pharmacy as a career path.
He explained that the ACPN had set up an Accreditation and Standardization Committee, which has since developed the Community Pharmacists Assessment and Career Progression Institute (CPACPI).
The institute will serve as a platform for structured evaluation, competency-based training, mentorship, and documentation of professional milestones.
“The Community Pharmacists Career Progression Scheme is designed to promote excellence in practice, encourage continuous learning, and provide recognition that motivates practitioners to deliver safer and more innovative patient-centered healthcare,” Ezeh said.
His presentation outlined key objectives of CPACPI, including assessment, career progression, professional development, and quality improvement.
The framework also incorporates interactive webinars, workshops, periodic evaluations, and mentorship opportunities.
He noted that the ultimate goal is to enhance patient care and health outcomes through better-trained and motivated pharmacists.
Chairman of the FIP Community Pharmacy, Mr. Sheriff Guorgui, who chaired the session, described the Nigerian proposal as forward-looking and declared it “the way to go for community pharmacists.”
He commended ACPN for initiating reforms that could reshape pharmacy practice globally, adding that the framework would be studied for broader implementation.
The adoption of Ezeh’s proposal at such a high-level platform represents international recognition of Nigeria’s leadership in advancing pharmacy practice.
It also reinforces the country’s contribution to global efforts aimed at improving health systems through innovative professional standards.
For the ACPN, this milestone is not only a validation of its advocacy for the profession but also a call to pharmacists in Nigeria to embrace structured development pathways that ensure long-term career growth while elevating the quality of healthcare services available to citizens.
Writing by Niran Odufayo