Picture: Contenders for post of National Secretary of PSN, Pharmacy. Kingsley Kenechukwu Ekwunife (left) and Pharmacy. Ndukwe Uma Ndukwe (right)
From Egbuna Mujekwu, Onitsha
Awka, the capital of Anambra State, is agog as no fewer than 5,000 delegates and hundreds of pharmaceutical industry stakeholders converge on the state for the 99th Annual National Conference of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), with Pharm. Kingsley Kenechukwu Ekwunife and Pharm. Ndukwe Uma Ndukwe locked in a keen contest for the position of National Secretary.
The conference, tagged Ijele 2026, opened on Tuesday and will end on November 7. It is expected to attract about 300 pharmaceutical manufacturers, alongside veterinary professionals, bakery entrepreneurs, supermarket owners, importers, distributors and other service providers.
With the theme, “One Health, One Pharmacy: Bridging Knowledge, Practice and Policy for National Impact,” the conference will feature the founder of United Nigeria Airlines, Professor Obiora Okonkwo, as keynote speaker.
Soludo to Declare Conference Open
The conference commenced with the arrival of delegates and pharmaceutical industry stakeholders ahead of its official opening by Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, as Special Guest of Honour.
Soludo’s administration has expressed readiness to partner with the PSN in advancing healthcare delivery and pharmaceutical development.
Receiving a PSN delegation led by its National President, Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim, during a courtesy visit to the Anambra State Light House, Awka, the governor, who was represented by the Office of the Chief of Staff, described the conference’s theme and identity as significant.
He observed that the name Ijele, which refers to a legendary masquerade with deep cultural and historical significance, promises to make the gathering a remarkable event.
PSN Explains Choice of Anambra
The PSN President, Pharm. Ibrahim, said the choice of Anambra State as host demonstrated Nigerian pharmacists’ confidence in the state’s commitment to industrialisation, healthcare development, human capital advancement and investment-friendly policies.
He disclosed that Ijele 2026 was designed to bring together approximately 5,000 delegates from Nigeria and abroad, including pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, healthcare professionals, industry leaders, policymakers, investors, development partners and regulatory agencies.
Established in 1927, the PSN is Nigeria’s foremost professional body for pharmacists and will celebrate its centenary in March 2027, when a new National President is expected to emerge.
Ibrahim, who was elected at the society’s 97th Annual National Conference in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, in November 2024, is serving a three-year tenure scheduled to end in March 2027.
While the position of National President is expected to be contested next year, the Awka conference will feature elections into other national offices of the society, including that of the National Secretary.
Ekwunife Banks on Experience, Eight-Point Agenda
The two contenders for the National Secretary position, Pharm. Kingsley Kenechukwu Ekwunife and Pharm. Ndukwe Uma Ndukwe, have intensified their last-minute campaigns, reaching out to delegates at the conference venue and their respective lodges.
Ekwunife, an Anambra-born pharmacist from Ebenebe, is banking on his experience, character, exposure, integrity, accountability and honesty as his major selling points.
His professional and leadership antecedents include serving as PSN Social Secretary between 2011 and 2014, a strategic stakeholder in the Association of Hospital Administrators and Pharmacists from 2003 to 2025, and National Vice Chairman of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists.
He also served as Secretary of the 98th PSN Annual National Conference in Kano in 2025 and is a member of the Ijele 2026 Conference.
Having recently served as a strategic member of the PSN World Pharmacists Day Committee, Ekwunife said his ambition was anchored on an eight-point agenda designed to reposition the society’s secretariat and strengthen the pharmacy profession.
His agenda includes the digitalisation of the PSN Secretariat to meet contemporary demands, giving a facelift to the Legacy House Project in Lagos, promoting mentorship programmes and exposing young pharmacists to early leadership responsibilities.
He also plans to promote inclusiveness and unity among pharmacists, strengthen professional advancement and strategic collaboration across different practice areas, and fast-track the establishment of consultant pharmacist cadres at various levels.
Other priorities include introducing welfare packages for pharmacists, expanding their professional roles and using the forthcoming centenary celebration to establish PSN as one of the most celebrated professional bodies in Nigeria.
Describing himself as an independent candidate, Ekwunife said he was committed to fairness, accessibility and accountability.
“I’m just and fair at all times. I’ll defend the interest of pharmacists and work for everybody. I’ll operate an open-door policy, be accessible and accountable,” he said.
On the conference theme, he described it as timely and relevant to the demands of the profession, stressing the need for a holistic approach to healthcare that empowers patients and caregivers with adequate knowledge of their health conditions and prescribed medications.
Ndukwe Promises Competence, Digital Transformation
On his part, Ndukwe, who is campaigning under the banner of “Competence Redefined,” said he was bringing extensive secretariat experience and administrative exposure to the contest.
His leadership credentials include serving as Assistant National Secretary of the PSN, Assistant National Secretary of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), and Co-founder and Pro-tem Secretary of the Young Pharmacists Group of Nigeria (YPG).
He promised to prioritise effective communication and innovative digitalisation of the PSN Secretariat to reposition the society, improve its visibility and enable it to compete at international standards.
Ndukwe also pledged to enhance professional capacity and promote transparent administration if elected.
Speaking on the future of the pharmacy profession, he expressed optimism, noting that the profession had reached a stage where pharmacists should serve as an accessible first point of contact for patients seeking healthcare services.
He explained that patients with minor health complaints could approach nearby pharmacies for professional attention, while those with serious conditions beyond the scope of pharmacists would be referred to qualified medical doctors or hospitals.
“For a patient who has simple body pain and whose condition isn’t critical, your nearest pharmacy is the first port of call. Pharmacists are responsible professionals and we handle what we can.
“Most times, when a pharmacist interacts with a patient and notices that the condition is beyond over-the-counter treatment, he refers the patient to a doctor. We respect healthy boundaries,” he said.
He further explained that the PSN was promoting the concept of pharmacists as contributors to primary healthcare delivery, while maintaining appropriate professional boundaries.
“PSN is being cultured as a Primary Health Centre (PHC) where a pharmacist can attend to patients. But when the patient is down with severe sickness, it behoves on the pharmacist to refer the person to a qualified doctor or hospital,” Ndukwe added.
The contest for National Secretary is expected to be one of the major highlights of the 99th PSN Annual National Conference as delegates prepare to elect officers who will steer the affairs of the professional body ahead of its historic centenary celebration.
Tags: PSN, Ijele 2026, Anambra State, Ekwunife, Ndukwe
