Soludo Seeks PSN Partnership to Transform Healthcare, Position Anambra as Nigeria’s Pharma Hub

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has called for a strategic partnership between the state government and the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) to strengthen healthcare delivery and transform Nigeria’s health ecosystem.

Soludo made the call while declaring open the 99th Annual National Conference of the PSN in Awka, Anambra State, themed “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact.”

The conference, tagged Ijele 2026, was described by the governor as a historic and unparalleled gathering, underscoring the indispensable role of pharmacists in building a functional and productive healthcare system.

According to Soludo, healthcare transformation requires collaboration among government, pharmaceutical professionals and other stakeholders to ensure accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for Nigerians.

He highlighted his administration’s commitment to human capital development, particularly in education and healthcare, as key pillars of Anambra’s development agenda.

The governor disclosed that the state’s education reforms, including free education from kindergarten through secondary school, had reduced the out-of-school child rate to 0.25 per cent, which he described as the lowest in Nigeria.

On healthcare, Soludo pointed to the revitalisation of primary healthcare centres across the state, noting that more than 250,000 beneficiaries had received zero-cost antenatal care, while over 950 free caesarean operations had been provided to expectant mothers.

He also reaffirmed his administration’s ambition to position Anambra as Nigeria’s leading pharmaceutical hub, highlighting the ongoing development of a state-of-the-art Pharmaceutical Hub in Oba.

The governor further disclosed that the Coordinated Wholesale Centre was expected to be delivered early next year, describing the initiatives as strategic investments in pharmaceutical distribution, safety and regulation.

Soludo urged the PSN leadership to deepen its partnership with the state government, particularly in enforcing operational standards and ensuring safety across the pharmaceutical sector.

He challenged the society to address unethical practices within the profession, including the proliferation of illicit drug outlets operating under the guise of licensed pharmacies.

The governor stressed the need for the profession to strengthen internal regulation and eliminate counterfeit and substandard pharmaceutical practices to protect public health.

Earlier, the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, expressed appreciation to Governor Soludo for his consistent support for the pharmaceutical profession.

Ibrahim said bringing the society’s flagship national conference to Anambra fulfilled a personal commitment, while commending the governor’s vision and leadership.

He also recalled predicting Soludo’s electoral victory, noting that the prediction had eventually come to pass.

The conference is expected to provide a platform for discussions on pharmaceutical practice, healthcare policy, professional development and strategies for improving Nigeria’s health ecosystem.

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