The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy has called for the retention of Medicines on the Exclusive list, advising that it would be counter-productive and exceedingly damaging to Nigeria were medicines to be moved to the Concurrent List as is being advocated by some.

The call was made at a special reception in honour of two distinguished fellows of the Academy, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola, Vice Chancellor, Chrisland University, for their outstanding achievements in the public service.

President, Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy, Prince Julius noted that “medicines are currently on the Exclusive List (item 21 of part 1 of the second schedule of the 1999 constitution) and though there appears to be an ill-advised move to remove it from this list to the Concurrent List, the Academy wishes to strongly advise that the health needs of Nigerians are best served by retaining medicines on the Exclusive List. This is particularly critical, if we are to avert a worsening of the chaos of drug distribution across Nigeria and the nightmare this poses for regulatory control.”

Prince Adelusi-Adeluyi also bemoaned the current situation of drug misuse and abuse in the country and warned that Nigeria had clearly transited from being a mere courier country to one in which young people now actively abuse drugs and hard substances. He added that this was another strong imperative for aggressive regulatory control backed by legislation to control the availability of drugs and other controlled substances across the country.

Congratulating the NAFDAC DG on her auspicious appointment following her investiture as a Fellow of the Academy in September 2017, Adelusi-Adeluyi called on the government at different levels to help provide support especially with regard to legislation as well as enforcement, to enable NAFDAC deliver impeccably on its mandate. “Research and academic excellence are also the major pillars of this Academy and we are elated by the recent appointment of yet another Fellow of the Academy to the position of VC of Chrisland University,” he enthused.

Speaking with reporters, Director-General of NAFDAC expressed confidence that the regulator would not let the Academy and the country down while noting that NADFAC’s mandate is to safeguard the health of the country by ensuring that wholesome food, drugs and water are readily available to consumers by ensuring quality standards and preventing fake and substandard medical products from entering into the country, and also ensuring that illicit drugs don’t get to children.

On the menace of drug abuse, “curtailing drug abuse is everyone's responsibility. However one essential measure in preventing abuse is making sure that access is cut off at the points of entry which is what we have been striving to do in spite of all the barriers. We have intercepted many containers of illegal substances as I speak. There must also be a communal approach to tackling the issue by propagating the right message that illicit drugs can damage the brain and ruin lives. Community and religious leaders must drive and champion this cause of fighting substance abuse,” Adeyeye urged.

It would be recalled that Prof. Adeyeye is the first African woman to bag the fellowship of American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS) in the US having served as the Founding Chair of the Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences at Roosevelt University, Illinois.

Prof. Chinedum Babalola, who has had a distinguished career as a drug development expert, researcher, teacher and mentor to undergraduates and young pharmacists, expressed her joy at being recognised by her constituency.

“I am happy to be so honoured by the Academy. I am not a competitor in the world of men but I also want to achieve that which is made possible by my husband. It is my vision that the university would be the best in terms of pharmacy and medicine as a centre of excellence because I cannot leave there without making the mark,” she said.

The Nigeria Academy of Pharmacy is a specialised academy that among others, seeks to promote scientific research and professional development especially in the health, pharmaceutical and related sectors in order to help overcome challenges posed by pain and disease as well as fast-track social and economic development in Nigeria and beyond.

Among dignitaries in attendance at the event were the Senator representing Osun Central Senatorial District and Senate Chief Whip, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye; General Secretary of the Academy, Prof. Fola Tayo; NAPharm Vice President, Sir Ifeanyi Atueyi; CEO, Lefas Group, Pharm Lekan Asuni; Pharm. Nnamdi Obi, Chairman, Association of Pharmaceutical Importers of Nigeria (APIN); Founder, Alpha Pharmacy, Sir Ike Onyechi; and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka, Prof. Charles Esimone.

Others include Prof Bolajoko Aina, Dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos (UNILAG); former dean, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos, Prof. Kemi Odukoya; Company Secretary, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Rotimi Odusola; Regulatory Affairs Manager, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Miss Mojisola Akpata; Proprietor of S.T & T Regency Schools, Dr Maggie Ibru; and Country Manager, IQVIA, West Africa, Remi Adeseun, amongst others.

•Dignitaries at the special reception in honour of Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye and Prof. Chinedum Peace Babalola

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