Emmanuel Ikpeama
Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, CFR, on Tuesday, declared open the 99th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) in Awka, with a call for a strategic partnership to drive healthcare leadership and transform Nigeria’s health ecosystem.
The conference, tagged “Ijele 2026”, is themed “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice And Policy For National Impact.”
Addressing thousands of delegates from across the country, Governor Soludo welcomed them to Anambra, the “Light of the Nation” and Nigeria’s undisputed pharmaceutical headquarters, describing the gathering as historic and matchless.
He stressed that no productive health ecosystem can exist without the vital role of pharmacists, noting that the profession remains central to public health, drug safety and national development.
The Governor highlighted Anambra’s deliberate focus on human capital development, pointing to major milestones in education and healthcare under his administration.
On education, he revealed that the state’s free education policy from kindergarten to secondary school has reduced the out-of-school child rate to 0.25 percent, the lowest in Nigeria.
In healthcare, Soludo cited a revamped primary healthcare system, over 250,000 beneficiaries of zero-cost antenatal care, and more than 950 free caesarean operations provided to expectant mothers in the state.
He further reaffirmed Anambra’s status as the nation’s premier pharma hub, citing the ongoing development of the state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Hub in Oba and the Coordinated Wholesale Centre, which is expected to be delivered early next year.
Governor Soludo challenged the PSN leadership to partner closely with the state to enforce operational safety, urging the society to cleanse itself of counterfeit practices and eliminate illicit shops masquerading as licensed pharmacies.
Earlier in his remarks, PSN President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, thanked Governor Soludo for his unwavering support for the pharmacy profession.
Ibrahim said bringing the flagship national conference to Anambra was in fulfilment of his personal pledge, and commended the Governor’s vision and leadership.
He noted that his earlier prediction of Governor Soludo’s electoral victory had come to pass.
