By Peace Udugba
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called for stronger collaboration between the state government and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to strengthen healthcare delivery and transform the country’s health sector.
Soludo made the call while declaring open the 99th Annual National Conference of the PSN in Awka, Anambra State.
The conference, tagged Ijele 2026, is themed: “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact.”
Welcoming delegates to Anambra, which is popularly known as the Light of the Nation, the governor described the gathering as historic, stressing that pharmacists play an indispensable role in building an effective and productive healthcare system.
He said his administration had prioritised human capital development, particularly in education and healthcare, as part of efforts to improve the quality of life of residents.
According to him, the state’s education reforms, including free education from kindergarten to secondary school, have reduced the out-of-school children rate to 0.25 per cent, which he described as the lowest in the country.
On healthcare, Soludo highlighted improvements in the state’s primary healthcare system, noting that more than 250,000 women had benefited from free antenatal services, while over 950 free caesarean section operations had been provided to expectant mothers.
The governor also reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthening Anambra’s position as a major pharmaceutical hub in Nigeria.
He disclosed that work was ongoing on a state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Hub in Oba, alongside plans for a Coordinated Wholesale Centre expected to be delivered early next year.
Soludo urged the PSN leadership to work closely with his administration to promote safety and professionalism in pharmaceutical practice.
He particularly challenged the society to address the activities of operators of illegal pharmaceutical outlets, including shops allegedly posing as licensed pharmacies, and intensify efforts to eliminate counterfeit medicines.
Earlier, the President of the PSN, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to the governor for his support for the pharmaceutical profession and commitment to hosting the society’s flagship national conference in Anambra.
Ibrahim commended Soludo’s vision and leadership, recalling his personal pledge to bring the conference to the state.
He also recalled predicting the governor’s electoral victory, expressing satisfaction that the prediction had materialised.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for pharmacists, healthcare professionals, policymakers and other stakeholders to exchange ideas and develop strategies for improving pharmaceutical practice and healthcare delivery in Nigeria.
