The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) on Friday in Abuja charged pharmacists under the Foreign Trained Nigerian Pharmacists platform to uphold ethical conduct and leadership standards across the country.
Mr. Ibrahim-Babashehu Ahmed, Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the council, delivered the charge during the oath-taking and induction ceremony for participants in the second cycle of the 2025 Foreign Practicing Graduates Orientation Programme (FPGOP).
Ahmed urged the inductees to be exemplary professionals, committed to excellence and the delivery of high-quality pharmaceutical services that support sustainable healthcare development nationwide.
He explained that FPGOP is designed to acquaint graduates with the practical realities of professional practice in tropical environments, with emphasis on Nigeria’s healthcare, regulatory, and cultural contexts.
“Pharmacy remains a noble profession offering graduates diverse opportunities to practice successfully in industries, community pharmacies, hospitals, administration, research, academia, and emerging fields such as information technology, journalism, publishing, and governance,” Ahmed said. He stressed the importance of teamwork and avoiding practices that undermine colleagues within collaborative healthcare environments.
Wosilat Giwa, PCN Governing Council Chair and chair of the occasion, congratulated the inductees for completing the programme and meeting professional requirements. She noted that graduates demonstrated readiness to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s evolving pharmaceutical sector.
According to Giwa, FPGOP serves as a quality control mechanism, equipping foreign-trained pharmacists with essential clinical, legal, regulatory, and social competencies for effective practice in Nigeria. She said the programme helps graduates integrate global expertise with local healthcare realities while upholding public trust and strict ethical standards.
She further observed that Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector is at a pivotal stage, prioritizing local manufacturing, research advancement, innovation, access to safe medicines, and strengthened primary healthcare services to achieve sustainable development goals.
Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), encouraged the inductees to develop clear personal visions and contribute to national growth through pharmaceutical research, innovation, and service. He cited Aliko Dangote’s success as an example of building wealth through vision, patience, and persistence, urging graduates to focus on long-term professional growth rather than immediate gains.
Adigwe also urged graduates to remain in Nigeria, apply their expertise locally, and support national development, stressing that commitment at home is vital for strengthening the country socially, economically, and sustainably.
In a goodwill message, Mr. Ndagi Alhassan, Registrar of the Nigerian Medical Council of Nigeria (NMCN), commended PCN’s leadership for regulating pharmacy education, training, practice, and business with professionalism, transparency, integrity, and accountability. He reaffirmed the critical role of pharmacists in healthcare delivery and highlighted the importance of collaboration between PCN and NMCN in protecting the public and upholding professional standards nationwide.
