Former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, has called on Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturers to abandon what he described as an “alibi culture” of excuses and instead embrace strategic quality excellence to achieve global competitiveness and strengthen national health security. He made this charge at the 29th Yearly National Conference and Training of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), held in Ilorin.
The conference gathered industry leaders, regulators, policymakers, and pharmaceutical stakeholders to discuss the future of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector. In his keynote address, Chidoka warned that Nigeria is at a critical crossroads and must urgently decide on the governance architecture needed to guarantee health security and industrial growth across administrations.
Chidoka highlighted the economic burden on ordinary Nigerians, citing the high cost of basic medical supplements and over-the-counter products. He noted that four common healthcare products—Creatine, Magnesium Glycinate, Vicks Sinex, and a pain relief ointment—cost about N130,520 in Nigeria, despite a combined international market value of roughly $88. In comparison, these products cost $54 in the United States and $37 in South Africa.
However, Chidoka argued that the deeper crisis is the collapse of Nigerians’ purchasing power. He explained that while a U.S. worker may spend barely one percent of monthly earnings on such products, a Nigerian minimum wage earner could require up to 15 percent of monthly income—or nearly two months’ salary—to purchase the same items. He described the challenge as more than a currency problem, reflecting structural weaknesses driven largely by the pharmaceutical industry’s heavy dependence on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), estimated at 70 to 80 percent.
According to Chidoka, the pharmaceutical industry must undergo a psychological and operational transformation by embracing an “Agency Culture,” where manufacturers take full responsibility for outcomes regardless of regulatory, economic, or infrastructural constraints. He stressed that survival in today’s global economy requires organizations to adapt strategically to changing market realities, technological advancements, evolving customer expectations, and opportunities from the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The future will not reward those who merely work harder in the same direction; it will reward those who are willing to work differently with a long-term vision,” Chidoka said. He argued that regulatory compliance should no longer be viewed as a burden but as a strategic opportunity to strengthen product quality, improve operational efficiency, and build international market confidence.
Chidoka challenged manufacturers to go beyond the minimum requirements of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and instead build systems capable of meeting global standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). “The regulator’s weakness is not your permission to be weak. You are not building for NAFDAC alone; you are building for WHO, AfCFTA, and the Nigerian consumer,” he declared.
He urged industry players not to wait for regulators to drive reform but to lead proactively by prioritizing data, innovation, accountability, and self-regulation. Supporting this call for transformation, NAIP National Chairman Bankole Ezebuilo said excellence in pharmaceutical manufacturing must go beyond basic compliance. He encouraged manufacturers to take full ownership of product quality and institutional performance, stressing that excellence must become an internal organizational culture rather than an externally imposed obligation.
Ezebuilo also advocated for the adoption of modern performance management tools such as Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), balanced scorecards, benchmarking systems, and continuous feedback mechanisms to drive sustainable improvement across the pharmaceutical industry.
The conference also featured globally respected pharmaceutical executive Henrietta N. Ukwu as a keynote speaker and trainer, reinforcing the conference’s global outlook and commitment to international best practices. The event attracted prominent pharmaceutical leaders and stakeholders, including former Presidents of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria such as Mohammed Yaro Budah, Azubike Okwor, Olumide Akintayo, Ahmed Iyakassai, and Sam Ohuabunwa. Also present were current PSN President Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim (represented by Gafar Lanre Madehin), Registrar of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed, and several industry experts.
The Kwara State Government demonstrated support for the pharmaceutical sector through the presence of top officials, including Commissioner for Finance Hauwa Nuru, Commissioner for Social Welfare Mariam Nana Fatima Imam, Commissioner for Communication Bolanle Olukoju, and Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Board Abdulraheem Abdulmalik.
As part of his broader reform vision, Chidoka proposed the adoption of “Mekaria,” an African operational philosophy centered on continuous improvement, supported by his M²I framework—Measure, Monitor, and Improve. He maintained that organizations must institutionalize accountability and excellence from leadership down to every operational level if Nigeria hopes to emerge as a major pharmaceutical hub in Africa.
