Governor Soludo made the call on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, during the official opening of the 99th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, tagged Ijele 2026, held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Awka, Anambra State.
Gathering health leaders, delegates, and policy experts under the theme “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact,” the morning session set an ambitious agenda for national healthcare reform.
Addressing the assembly, Governor Soludo emphasized that pharmacists remain indispensable partners in building a safe, resilient, and sustainable healthcare system. He urged the leadership and members of the PSN to work hand-in-hand with his administration to enforce rigorous quality standards and rid the pharmaceutical ecosystem of illegal operators and fake medicines.
”Anambra State remains Nigeria’s pharmaceutical capital,” Governor Soludo stated. “Pharmacists are critical partners in ensuring quality healthcare delivery and sustaining a productive society. We must work together to eradicate counterfeit products and build an organized ecosystem.”
Highlighting ongoing state initiatives aimed at modernizing drug distribution across West Africa, the Governor detailed plans for the flagship Oba Pharmaceutical Distribution Hub.
Designed as a state-of-the-art Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) spanning 50 hectares along the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway in Oba, the facility is scheduled for completion in early 2027 and will centralise drug distribution within a strictly regulated environment.
Soludo further pointed to broader investments in human capital, noting that comprehensive state reforms have successfully driven out-of-school child rates down to 0.25 percent, the lowest in the country.
To ensure full compliance, the state is deepening its alignment with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) to dismantle unorganized open drug markets.
Responding on behalf of the profession, PSN President Pharm. Cyril Usifoh expressed deep appreciation to Governor Soludo for hosting the milestone conference in Awka and commended the state’s vision for the Oba Coordinated Wholesale Centre.
To mark the occasion, Pharm. Usifoh presented Governor Soludo with an Award of Excellence in recognition of his transformative contributions to the advancement of pharmacy practice and healthcare infrastructure in Nigeria.
