The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerian pharmacists trained overseas to resist lucrative opportunities abroad and instead apply their expertise to strengthen the country’s health system, highlighting the critical role the profession plays in national development. The appeal came during an induction and oath-taking ceremony for foreign-trained pharmacists held in Abuja on Friday, January 9, 2026.
Addressing the newly inducted pharmacists, Professor Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, called on the graduates to deploy the skills and knowledge they acquired abroad toward improving healthcare delivery in Nigeria. Professor Pate delivered the remarks through Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, Director of Food and Drug Services at the Federal Ministry of Health.
“We recognise that your entry into the profession comes at a time when Nigeria is intensifying efforts to improve access to quality medicines, enhance patient safety, and promote the rational use of medicines,” the minister said. “Your expertise, dedication, and adherence to ethical practice will be critical to achieving these goals.”
Pate underscored the government’s commitment to supporting local pharmaceutical manufacturing, which he described as essential for job creation, enhanced confidence in locally produced medicines, and broader national progress. He urged the inductees to “see today’s oath not merely as a formality, but as a solemn commitment to uphold the integrity of the profession, serve patients with compassion, and contribute meaningfully to the advancement of pharmaceutical care in Nigeria.”
The minister also quoted guidance from the Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), encouraging pharmacists to look inward for opportunities to succeed and to “bring back that knowledge to society and into our health sector.”
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Obi Adigwe, Director-General of NIPRD, shared his own experience of turning down a lucrative professional opportunity in the United Kingdom to return to Nigeria after completing his studies. He told graduates that practising in Nigeria provided a deeper sense of fulfilment and impact than working abroad.
“Like many of you, I chose to return to Nigeria, and people were surprised. It turned out to be the best career decision I ever made, gaining global exposure and bringing that knowledge back to make an impact where it is most needed,” Dr. Adigwe said during his address.
Dr. Adigwe emphasised that there was “nothing you can do with a pharmacy degree anywhere in the world that you cannot do here,” stressing that serving both God and country through pharmaceutical practice was among the profession’s highest callings.
The ceremony, which also marked the successful completion of the second cycle of the 2025 Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Orientation Programme, was attended by pharmacists who completed a structured orientation designed to familiarise them with Nigeria’s healthcare context, laws and clinical realities, rendering them fit to practise within the country. Ibrahim Ahmed, Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), explained that the programme aims to equip foreign-trained pharmacists with the specific knowledge needed to operate effectively within Nigeria’s health system.
Nigeria’s healthcare sector has long grappled with the migration of trained professionals seeking better work conditions and remuneration abroad—a trend that officials and stakeholders say weakens the nation’s capacity to deliver quality care. Encouraging pharmacists to remain and contribute locally, the FG argues, could help stem this brain drain and strengthen the domestic health workforce.
The induction underscores the government’s broader efforts to retain skilled health professionals, promote local pharmaceutical production, and improve access to quality medicines and patient care across Nigeria’s health system.
