Pharmaceutical Council Inducts 85 Foreign-Trained Pharmacists

The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has inducted 85 foreign-trained Nigerian pharmacists.

It urged them to uphold the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and patient care as they begin practising in the country.

The pharmacists were inducted on Monday during the oath-taking ceremony for participants in the first cycle of the 2026 Foreign Pharmacy Graduate Orientation Programme held in Abuja.

The orientation programme prepares Nigerian-trained pharmacists who obtained their qualifications abroad for professional practice in Nigeria. It familiarises them with the country’s pharmacy laws, ethical standards, healthcare policies and regulatory requirements before they are admitted to the register of pharmacists and licensed to practise.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Registrar of the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, Pharm. Ibrahim Ahmed, said the induction marked the beginning of a new professional journey built on knowledge, experience and a shared commitment to quality healthcare.

Ahmed commended the inductees for choosing to return and practise in Nigeria after receiving their pharmacy education abroad.

“I welcome you all to this important and memorable occasion of the induction of foreign pharmacists. Today marks not only a ceremonial event but also the beginning of a new professional era that brings together knowledge, experience, and a shared commitment to quality healthcare.

“Your decision to join this profession in a new environment—Nigeria—reflects courage, dedication, and a strong desire to contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical healthcare,” he said.

Ahmed said the Council valued the expertise, diversity and global perspective the pharmacists would bring to the profession, expressing confidence that they would strengthen collaboration and raise professional standards.

“We value the expertise, diversity, and global perspective you bring, and we are confident that your presence will enrich our institutions, strengthen collaboration, and promote the highest standards of pharmacy practice,” he said.

He reminded the newly inducted pharmacists that pharmacy is a profession built on integrity, precision, compassion and continuous learning, urging them to familiarise themselves with Nigeria’s professional standards and ethical responsibilities.

Ahmed also assured them of the Council’s support as they settle into the country’s healthcare system.

“Let this induction serve as an opportunity to familiarise yourselves with our standards, expectations, and shared responsibilities. We recognise that professional integration is a journey, and we are committed to supporting you as you settle in, adapt, and thrive”, he added.

Chairman of the occasion, the Esu of Karu and Chairman of the Karu Local Government Traditional Council in Nasarawa State, Pharm. Luka Baba, described the induction as an important milestone for the pharmacists and Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

He said the orientation programme had successfully aligned the pharmacists’ international training with Nigeria’s healthcare needs and regulatory framework, urging them to see pharmacy as a calling rather than simply a career.

“I am profoundly honoured to preside over this occasion… which marks a significant milestone not only in the lives of the inductees but also in the strengthening of our nation’s healthcare system. This orientation programme has successfully adapted that knowledge to the framework of our local healthcare needs and regulatory requirements,” Baba said.

“As you take your oath today, remember that pharmacy is not just a profession—it is a calling anchored in integrity, precision, and humanity. Our work is not merely professional practice; it is also service to God because we are serving humanity,” he added.

Baba said Nigeria stood to benefit from the global exposure and expertise of the newly inducted pharmacists.

“You are the vital bridge between pharmaceutical science and patient care. Nigeria needs your global exposure, expertise, and dedication now more than ever,” he said.

He congratulated the 85 inductees and wished them successful careers devoted to serving humanity.